Sexual desire disorders or sexual dysfunctions may be more prevalent than you think. NCBI research determined that 3 out of 10 men reported having sexual dysfunctions.
Problems with sexual arousal can create problems in relationships. It can affect people’s self-esteem and confidence — when a ‘bad night in bed’ turns into a pattern. Sexual dysfunction prevents arousal or enjoyment of a sexual activity. The prevalence of sexual dysfunctions further increases as people age. It is vital then to understand the different types of sexual disorders and how to treat them.
Understanding Penis Erection
Erection starts once the brain picks up signals in your senses, such as something you felt, saw, heard, thought, or smelled. Then, the nerves in the brain will send chemical messages that will initiate blood flow into the penis.
After that, the arteries should relax and let the blood flow. Meanwhile, the veins should close up to maintain the erection. Pressure traps blood in the penis within the corpora cavernosa causing it to expand and hold an erection. Once the veins open and the inflow of blood stops, the penis will become soft. When blood flow is too quick, the erection will not last.
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Understanding Penis Ejaculation
During arousal, the vas deferens squeeze the sperm from the testes, and the seminal vesicles release some fluid. The urethra will sense the sperm and fluid mixture during an orgasm. To achieve climax, the urethra will send signals to the spinal cord. Then the muscles at the base of the penis will contract every 0.8 seconds in a fast and powerful way to ejaculate, forcing the semen out of the penis.
Understanding sexual disorders
There are four different main types of sexual dysfunction. These include:
- Sexual desire disorders- little or no interest in sex on an ongoing basis. Low hormone levels (estrogen and testosterone) leading to low libido may cause this problem.
- Sexual arousal disorders- difficulty or inability to become physically aroused for sexual activity. Emotionally, the person may be ‘in the mood,’ but the body isn’t. There is often a lack of physical satisfaction from sex.
- Pain disorders- In men, damage to the penis, genital herpes, prostatitis, UTI, and yeast infections may lead to pain during sex. In women, UTI, vaginal muscle pain, and vaginal dryness may cause pain during intercourse.
- Orgasm disorders- Delayed orgasm or no orgasm is most common among women and men. Orgasm problems are often due to stress, fatigue, hormonal imbalances, and pain during sex. Inability to reach an orgasm during sex may cause feelings of frustration.
What causes sexual dysfunction?
There are several reasons why people experience problems with their sexual performance. Some of these issues can lead to low libido or sexual desire for your partner or any person. Several contributing factors to sexual dysfunctions include:
- Stress
- Sexual trauma
- Psychological issues
- Anxiety and depression
- Heart disease
- Nervous system and brain disorders
- Heart disease and high cholesterol
- Type 2 diabetes
- Certain medications like antidepressants, painkillers, and antihistamines
- Habits like smoking or tobacco, alcohol, and drug use
- Fatigue
- Fear of pregnancy
- Hormonal changes after childbirth
- Conflict of relationship problems
- Menopause
- Performance anxiety
Erection disorders
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the difficulty of getting an erection or a penis staying erect during intercourse. ED can be psychologically-manifested due to stress, trauma, anxiety, or worrying about sexual performance and relationship conflicts.
There are different erection disorders such as:
- Unable to get an erection
- Penis won’t stay erect (example: loses erection every 30 seconds)
- Partial erections
- Difficulty finishing or staying erect until the climax
Physical conditions such as obesity or overweight, having Type 2 diabetes, injury, or surgery can also lead to erection problems. Lifestyle is also a contributing factor to getting and staying hard. Diet and exercise can improve blood flow and circulation for getting ready for sex. Chucking bad habits like smoking, using drugs, and alcohol can also prevent the risk of getting ED.
Ejaculation Disorders
Sexual dysfunction in men includes problems when it comes to reaching a climax or ejaculation.
- Premature ejaculation- either ejaculation is too fast, like right after penetration or even before. Stress, medications, and sexual inhibitions may cause ejaculation before reaching satisfaction on both ends.
- Impaired ejaculation- Retrograde ejaculation is when there is no ejaculation at all. It often occurs among those with diabetic neuropathy. Instead of ejaculating out of the penis, ejaculation enters the bladder causing fertility issues.
When to See the Doctor for Sexual Dysfunctions
When a lousy night in bed keeps happening, it is best to consult a health practitioner and deal with this pattern. Failure to discuss sexual problems with your partner and doctor can cause issues to escalate.
To reach a diagnosis, your doctor will ask about any chronic health conditions you might be experiencing, and the medications you are taking. There will also be a physical exam and diagnostic testing. If the cause is not an underlying physical issue, your doctor will address psychological issues, habits, and lifestyle changes.
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Sexual Dysfunction Treatments
While there is no permanent medicinal cure for complete erectile dysfunction, you have several options to manage sexual dysfunction. In the case of temporary sexual dysfunction, first, there is a need to address the underlying problems causing the dysfunction.
Some methods to treat sexual dysfunctions due to physical causes are:
- Treating the underlying medical condition
- Switching medications to those that won’t interfere with sexual desire and performance
- Taking prescription medication for sexual dysfunction like Sildenafil (Viagra) to increase blood flow into the penis
- Hormone therapy to help restore proper sexual functions
- Penile implants and other surgical procedures
- Penis pumps or special vacuum devices for those who lost their sensation in their penis
If the sexual dysfunction is psychologically-related, this should also be treated. Some ways to treat psychological causes of sexual dysfunction are:
- Psychological counseling to help manage stress and anxiety
- Couple counseling to address communication and intimacy issues
- Psychotherapy for deeply-rooted causes of sexual dysfunction
Before You Go
Once you determine a recurring problem in the bedroom, it is best to first talk with a healthcare professional. Sexual dysfunctions are not uncommon. Yet, you need to address these as sexual problems become more prevalent with age. If you address the problem, you need not suffer endlessly.
