Sexual dysfunctions: what are they, what types are there and how are they treated?

A summary of the main characteristics of this kind of problems in life and in the couple.

Sexual dysfunctions are all those situations in which sexual satisfaction or sexual response is affected. sexual satisfaction or sexual response is impaired, and this prevents and this prevents participation in a desired sexual relationship. They affect both men and women and are not necessarily associated with age or sexual orientation.

Our sexuality is valued, albeit privately and intimately, as one of the most important aspects of our lives. However, it is known to all that throughout history, human sexuality has been a nest of sexuality, human sexuality has been a nest of taboos, prejudices and censorship..

The repression of sexuality, nothing good, the brake of desire and the generalized ignorance on the subject causes not only that we cannot know, express and enjoy to the maximum our sexuality, but in not few occasions they cause the appearance of more serious difficulties that prevent us from that enjoyment and that damage our relations, so much of couple, as to social level, since they damage the self-esteem and the general satisfaction with the life.

Prevalence

Although the statistics are confusing, due to the disagreement that usually exists in the classification of the sexual dysfunctions, they indicate a fairly high prevalence.. Masters and Johnson, pioneers in human sexuality research in the 1960s, indicated that 50% of heterosexual couples had some sexual dysfunction.

Currently, according to the Andalusian Institute of Sexology and Psychology (2002), the sexual dysfunction for which most consultations are made is erectile dysfunction, which accounts for 48% of consultations. Premature ejaculation follows with 28.8%, followed by hypoactive sexual desire (8%), female anorgasmia (7.4%), vaginismus (1.6%) and male orgasm disorders (0.4%).

How can I know if I suffer from any sexual dysfunction?

The moment you feel discomfort or dissatisfaction related to your sexual behavior. For me, dysfunction begins when it is the person him/herself who is not comfortable in his/her relationships, not when the body does not respond as it should.(e.g.: "A real man lasts longer than X amount of time", if you are satisfied with your ejaculation time and your partner is too, there is no sexual dysfunction). That is, it is a subjective perception.

How it interferes with quality of life

Our body is a means for pleasure. If it doesn't work as we would like it to, that pleasure will be invaded. doesn't pleasure provide quality of life in every way? If our sexual relations do not provide us with satisfaction we are going to stop having them, when numerous studies say that one of the variables that is associated with sexual satisfaction is the frequency with which they are had, both for men and women.

In addition, as it is evident, not only the relationship in bed deteriorates, but also the confidence in oneself, the self-esteem is deteriorated and in case of having a stable partner, the communication with this one and the general satisfaction with the relationship also deteriorates. satisfaction in general with the relationship is also detrimental..

As usual, but not the best choice, sexual problems are usually lived in silence. This only generates serious internal conflicts (and with the partner), consequently reducing the quality of life..

Why treatment is important

Sexual dysfunctions often become a vicious circle. It starts with an episode in which our body has not reacted as we wanted it to (we have lost or failed to get an erection, we suddenly do not feel like having sex, we cannot reach climax or we ejaculate earlier than we would like to).

At the next sexual intercourse we already go with a certain anticipatory anxiety in the body for fear that it will happen again; that anxiety is what makes the body not to work again. And so on, until you stop trying ("I'm not going to enjoy it" or "why am I going to try if I'm not going to get it?" or "I'm useless" or "I want to satisfy him/her and I can't"). In short, you get into a loop from which it is very difficult to get out and for which, in most cases, you need therapeutic help..

Talking about problems related to sexuality produces very complex emotions such as guilt, shame or failure. For this reason, many people and couples find it very difficult to take the step to go to therapy.

We know that it costs a lot, firstly, to accept that you have a problem that you are usually ashamed to admit to yourself and others, and secondly, to dare to ask for help, to dare to ask for help. Many couples spend an average of 3 years without talking about solving the problem and 5 years before they go to therapy.

The primary reason why it is important to treat them is because problems in bed cause emotional Pain (and physical pain in some dysfunctions) that can affect self-esteem and your overall quality of life. It is important that you don't let the emotions we talked about earlier get the best of you and stop you from putting an end to it. and do not let you put an end to this vicious circle, since they are precisely the ones that feed it.

Bibliographical references:

• Toquero de la Torre, F., Zarco Rodríguez, J., Cabello-Santamaría, F., Alcoba Valls, S., García-Giralda Ruiz, L. and San Martín Blanco, C. (2004). Guide of good clinical practice in sexual dysfunctions. Madrid: Organización Médica Colegial.