30 Jan 2020

sexual function problems symptoms, causes, treatment

sexual function problems symptoms, causes, treatment – Sideeffects.com

Overview

Sexual dysfunction significantly affects 31% of men and 43% of women around the world. This illness pertains to disorder connected to satisfaction during sexual intercourse. 

Understanding how our body responds to this disorder will help us find the appropriate treatment. With a traditional cycle that involves arousal or desire, excitement, orgasm, plateau, and later on a resolution. The couples’ response to this cycle will determine if there is a sexual disorder. 

It may consider taboo at some; however, understanding the real cause can yield to finding the right treatment possible. Besides talking with your partner, you should also seek help through your doctor or an expert on this disorder. 

Types Of Sexual Disorder

There are four types of sexual disorders based on their classifications.  

1. Arousal problem. This is the lack of excitement towards sexual activity.

2. Orgasm disorder. The absence of fulfilment or climax.

3. Desire disorder. Being uninterested in sexual intercourse.

4. Pain problem. This happens when you feel pain towards sexual intercourse. 

Ageing is one of the possible causes of sexual disorder as it reduces excitement and arousal. It can experience at any age range, aside from ageing at the same time. 

Signs And Symptoms About Sexual Disorder

There are certain factors to check for both men and women when it comes to sexual disorders. There are specific signs and symptoms to monitor. 

For men, the inability to control ejaculation (premature or early ejaculation), delayed or absence of ejaculation with enough sexual stimulation (retarded ejaculation), and inability to maintain an erection while in sexual intercourse ( erectile dysfunction) are among the few. 

While for women, not enough vaginal lubrication, inability to get a climax, and cannot soothe vaginal muscles for intercourse is among the few to name. 

For most, if you are experiencing pain, inability or lack of excitement, or arousal towards sex are common to both parties. 

Sexual Disorder Causes

Some of the known causes of sexual disorders are health-related;

  • Cholesterol level
  • Diabetes
  • Cancer or urological infections
  • Drug abuse
  • Neurological disorders
  • Damaged nerve
  • Alcoholism
  • Cardiovascular illness
  • Blood pressure (high)
  • Chronic illness, kidney failure
  • Hormonal imbalances

If you are taking medications, this can greatly affect your sexual functions. Antidepressants, medicines for blood pressure, recreational drugs, and alcohol are among the few. Previous surgeries that damage the nerve can also cause sexual dysfunctions.

On the other hand, psychological issues result in sexual disorders too. Molestation, abuse or rape, sexual trauma, and negative experiences can lead to sexual disorder. Sexual performances, guilt, desire, activity, depression, relationship status, anxiety, and body image can cause psychological problems resulting in sexual function problems. 

Diagnosis And Treatment

The patient already recognizes most sexual disorders. Through physical and medical history, there are diagnostic tests to support the disorder. However, lab tests may play a limited resource when it comes to sexual dysfunction. 

It is all about the individuals’ participation and willingness to determine the root cause of sexual disorder. Checking for possible treatment after intensive background checking follows.

Treatment For Sexual Disorder

Mechanical aid. There are different aids appropriate for treating sexual disorders both for men and women — for example, penile implants aids with erection disorder. Vacuum devices may be expensive but worth it for women or dilators to help with sexual dysfunctions.

Behaviour treatment. Self stimulations and insights about sexual and relationship behaviour that affects sexual disorder and inability to orgasm or arouse are ideal treatments.

Medications. Changing medications to treat disorders may take effect if the cause is about your medicine intake. Creams, hormone shots, cordyceps drugs, and pills can increase sexual functions.

Sex therapy. Most marriage counsellors aids with sexual disorders for couples. Trained personnel handles couple relationship problems by addressing the root cause. 

Psychotherapy. Most trained counsellors can let the person overcome a negative impact on sexual functions.

Communication and education. Building a healthy relationship by opening your concerns about sexual concerns and desires can improve sexual disorder. 

Treating Sexual Disorder

To effectively cure such ailments and disorders, we must find the root cause of it first. With sexual disorder, there are proven cases that are durable and manageable. Either your doctor will reverse the cause or find a cure based on the origin of the disorder itself. 

If you are experiencing dysfunctions that are related to mild causes, it can be treated successfully. Mild disorder from stress, anxiety, phobia, or trauma can be cured with the right counselling. This can also be treated with the right knowledge, communication, and education, which is ideal for both parties or couples. 

Proper understanding of the causes can help you prevent disorder development. There are known disorders that are inevitable. The good news is, you can avoid and lower your risk of acquiring one. That includes paying attention to your lifestyle and daily routine. Taking precautions for a healthier living means you are also reducing your risk for development. 

This includes or/and limited to the following habits:

  •  Quit smoking or never engage in such a habit
  •  Acknowledging your dietary intake. Making sure that you have a well-balanced and healthy meal.
  •  Taking time to exercise regularly. 
  •  Never use prohibited drugs as they have lethal side effects to your health.
  •  Alcohol intake should be limited to less as much as possible. 

Another factor to look forward to is how you must control and improve your physical well being. If you are experiencing chronic illnesses, for example, diabetes, high blood pressure, or cardiovascular disease, you can try other healthy methods your doctor can advise to improve your health. 

On the other hand, if you are taking medications regularly, you can check with your physician for alternative prescriptions, which may lower the risk of sexual disorder. Never reduce or remove medications that your doctor prescribes without their consent. This can worsen the condition or may affect your health at a certain risk. 

Risk Of Sexual Function Problem

Which illnesses can cause sexual disorders?

There are a few medical conditions that greatly affect your sexual performance. Among these are the following:

Diabetes

Damaged nerves can significantly affect your ejaculation or orgasm. As your sugar level increases, your blood vessels are also affected. Diabetic neuropathy is the condition in which you have damaged nerves that later on caused sexual disorders, both for men and women.

For most women who have diabetes, vaginal lubrication is affected, which puts you at risk for yeast infection. The damaged blood vessel can harden your vaginal wall. It will then lead to dry sexual intercourse and may not be comfortable for both parties, especially with women, as they feel pain more than pleasure.

While men have hardened blood vessels that affect erection and firm penis while in sexual activity. 

One of the most important things to remember for people who have diabetes is to have adequate knowledge of sugar level. Controlling your glucose means a lower risk of sexual disorder. 

There are effective treatments both for men and women who have diabetes. Taking medications like Avanafil (Stendra®), Sildenafil citrate, Vardenafil, Tadalafil, mechanical aids such as penile implants or vacuum aids, etc., and intracavernous injection. On the other hand, most women can prevent vaginal dryness by using water-soluble jelly. 

Cardiovascular illnesses

Some of these include hypertension and blood vessel circulation disorder or peripheral vascular ailment. They greatly affect small veins that later on affect your genitals. 

If you have decreased blood flow, it will affect your arousal or excitement state that affects your sexual performance. 50 % of the recorded cases of erectile disorder is due to blood vessel disorder. 

There are known factors that affect your sexual competence concerning the cardiovascular disorder. These include muscle weakness, shorten breaths, chest pain, and fatigue. Physiological fear of sudden heart attack while in a state of excitement. 

Prescription pills may also affect your sexual activity. From erectile disorder, lack of excitement, and ejaculation inability. Having cardiovascular ailment does not limit you from sexual activities though you must take consent with your doctor’s advice for your safety. 

Having a total change of lifestyle is essential to prevent and reduce your risk. This means having a healthier and balanced diet, reduction of alcohol intake, regular physical activity, and exercise, and quit smoking. 

Depression

Depression affects sexual activity, which comes from your brain’s neurons, transmitting signals to your body. If a person is depressed, the neurons are imbalanced. It’s a chain reaction from a lack of pleasure to self-confidence. 

Ironically, antidepressant medications play an essential role in sexual disorders. Check with your doctor for an alternative to medicine breaks from time to time. That way, it won’t affect your health condition and treatment. 

Prostate Cancer

The illness does not affect sexual disorders but the medication and treatment process. As per treatment, it can improve your sexual dysfunction with a few prescriptions. Check with your doctor what are the safe ways to regain your sexual competence. 

The menopausal stage for women

This stage leaves a woman with fewer estrogen levels. Connected to diabetes, estrogen levels affect vaginal lubrication capability. 

Physical and emotional changes may vary from side effects per individual. It may lower interest or improve sexual excitement due to fewer pregnancy possibilities. It differs per person’s reaction to hormonal imbalances. 

When To Seek Medical Attention

To prevent problem escalations, it is best to acknowledge the cause right away As it can lead to depression or anxiety if not deal openly. 

Seeking medical help will require you to discuss full medical history, medication intakes, and counseling. 

 Physical examinations, lab tests, and determining the cause, if found negative, you may need to check with a sex therapist for further evaluation and treatment.

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