Female sexual arousal disorder (FSIAD) occurs when your body isn’t responding to sexual stimulation. However, the experience can be different for each woman. While some women with FSIAD experience symptoms every time they try to engage in sexual activity, others may have more sporadic symptoms. Living with FSIAD can be a frustrating and demoralizing experience for a woman and her partner. With FSIAD being spoken about so infrequently in the medical community, most women don’t know that there’s actually a name and diagnosis for the symptoms they are experiencing. More importantly, that treatment for female sexual arousal disorder is available.
Types of Female Sexual Arousal Disorder
One of the reasons why female sexual arousal disorder is experienced so differently among women is that this disorder has different subtypes. Getting an accurate diagnosis based on what you’re experiencing is important for making sure you’re getting the correct female sexual arousal disorder treatment. Take a look at the three types of female sexual arousal disorder.
Subjective Arousal Disorder
Subjective arousal disorder occurs when a woman experiences genital response to sexual stimulation without accompanying cognitive awareness of sexual pleasure. While physical genital responses occur, the woman doesn’t experience mental arousal in response to sexual genital or non-genital stimulation. Stimulation can include touch, kissing, dancing, and physical stimulation.
Genital Arousal Disorder
Genital arousal disorder occurs when a woman experiences feelings of pleasure in her mind that do not manifest into physical arousal. While she may be interested in having a sexual experience, lack of lubrication and sensation prevent this from happening. While genital arousal disorder can occur in women of any age, it is especially common in women experiencing hormonal changes during and after menopause.
Combined Arousal Disorder
As the name suggests, combined sexual arousal disorder occurs when both genital and mental responses to sexual stimulation are absent. A woman with combined arousal disorder may experience a general lack of sexual desire. When attempting to engage in sexual activity, she can struggle to find both the desire and physical interest needed to experience pleasure.
Symptoms of Female Sexual Arousal Disorder
The telltale sign that a woman is experiencing FSIAD is that she is noticing a pronounced decrease in sexual interest and pleasure. While symptoms are on a spectrum, it’s not uncommon for women with FSIAD to experience a complete absence of mental and physical arousal. Other symptoms of female sexual arousal disorder can include:
- Reduction in sex drive.
- Never thinking about sex.
- Decreased arousal when attempting to engage in sexual activity.
- Lack of arousal in response to intimate physical touch.
- Lack of arousal in response to sexual stimulation of any kind.
- Infrequently initiating sexual activity with a partner.
- Reduced or dulled sensations in the genitals.
- No increase of blood flow to the genitals when attempting arousal.
- Vaginal dryness when attempting arousal.
When diagnosing FSIAD, Dr. Tahery takes a whole-picture approach to health to try to pinpoint underlying reasons for symptoms. Past pelvic surgeries, chronic illness, sexual trauma, and psychological factors can all contribute to FSIAD. Symptoms can also be related to hormonal changes linked with childbirth or menopause. It’s common for care providers to conduct pelvic examinations to look for signs of infection or nerve damage that could be causing FSIAD symptoms. Blood work may also be ordered.
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Treatment
There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for FSIAD because underlying causes can be anatomical, hormonal, medical, or psychological. In many cases, a combination of treatments that address more than one factor can be successful. Some options for treating female sexual arousal disorder include medications, hormone therapy, non-invasive vaginal rejuvenation like G spot injection, or speaking with a therapist specializing in sexual health.
While FSIAD can feel like a sensitive topic for many women, its symptoms should never be ignored. Losing your sexual desire and pleasure isn’t something that any woman should decide to just “live with.” The reality is that sexual health is tied to overall health and wellness. If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms shared above, this could be an indication that something is out of balance with your overall health or hormonal balance. In addition to helping to restore your sexual arousal, female sexual arousal disorder treatment options can also help to bring your body back in sync. Addressing an underlying issue may actually reduce your risk levels for other illnesses and disorders!
If you’d like to talk with a highly-rated doctor about female sexual arousal disorder, don’t hesitate to book a consultation with Dr. Michael Tahery. Dr. Tahery is a leading obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) and urogynecologist in the Los Angeles area. Contact our office today to schedule your appointment.