Female Sexual Dysfunction Advocacy Sheet

At some point in a woman’s life she may experience female sexual dysfunction. It is marked by a woman’s inability to be aroused or maintain arousal, pain during intercourse, inability to orgasm, and low sex drive. Female sexual dysfunction oftenoccurs following a period of hormone flux, such as after delivering a baby or during menopause. Symptoms can be caused by psychological conditions like anxiety, or physical conditions such as arthritis, urinary or bowel difficulties, and persistent headaches, among other things.

Your sexuality is integral to your overall well-being, so it’s important to take care of any difficulties you may be having. Symptoms can lead to depression (causing a cycle), or can cause disruption in your relationship. If you are experiencing female sexual dysfunction the good news is that most cases are highly treatable, so you should definitely talk with your doctor. Here are some questions to ask:

• What may be causing my sexual difficulties? You may already have a pretty good idea, or the doctor may be to help shed some light on what could be going on by asking questions. You may have trouble talking about sex with your doctor, but it’s important for your treatment success to be prepared to answer the following questions:

    - What problems are you currently experiencing?
    - How much do these problems bother you?
    - How satisfied are you with your current relationship?
    - When did you first become sexually active?
    - Do you become aroused during sexual interactions with your partner?
    - Are you able to experience orgasm?
    - If you've had orgasms in the past, what were the circumstances?
    - Do you experience any pain with intercourse?
    - Are you using any form of birth control? If yes, what form?
    - What medications are you taking, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs as well as vitamins and supplements?
    - Do you use alcohol or recreational drugs? How much?
    - Have you ever had surgery that involved your reproductive system?
    - Have you been diagnosed with any other medical conditions, including mental health conditions?
    - Have you ever been the victim of sexual violence?

• Do I need any medical tests? Your doctor may perform a pelvic exam to make sure there isn’t a physical reason for your difficulties. A counselor or therapist may be able to help get to the bottom of underlying psychological barriers to intimacy.
• What treatment approach do you recommend? Many factors contribute to sexual effectiveness, so a multi-faceted approach may help. Your doctor can help you find the solution that’s right for you, possibly including medication, hormone therapy, counseling/therapy, and/or developing alternatives for increasing sexual intimacy with your partner/spouse.
• If you're prescribing medication, are there any possible side effects? Some anti-depressants and other medications could have sexual side effects. Talk with your doctor if you suspect something may be affecting your libido.
• How much improvement can I reasonably expect with treatment? Chances are, your treatment will be a process and will not change overnight. You should give it time, and do all you can at home to help things along so you can reach your goals.
• Are there any lifestyle changes or self-care steps that may help? Doctors recommend limiting alcohol use and quitting smoking, both of which can have sexual side effects. It also is important to follow a healthy lifestyle of eating well and exercising regularly.
• Do you recommend therapy? Counseling can also help youwork through any psychological difficulties you may be having.
• Should my partner be involved in treatment? It may be a good idea to include your spouse in your treatment where applicable—your recovery is important to him/her, too. And work with him/her toward finding other ways, at least for the time being, to help increase your bond, which should work to help your sexual intimacy later on.
• Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? What websites do you recommend visiting? Your doctor can recommend his or her favorite websites for educating yourself, gaining support, and learning about alternative treatment options.

This information is not meant to be a replacement for talking with your doctor. Talk with your team of doctors to get the full picture for your particular case.

Resources:
www.mayoclinic.com Female Sexual Dysfunction

Do you have a question about female sexual dysfunction? Check out EmpowHER’s page. Sign-up, post a question, share your story, connect with other women in our community and feel EmpowHERed!

Christine Jeffries is a writer/editor for work and at heart, and lives in a home of testosterone with her husband and two sons. Christine is interested in women’s health and promoting strong women.