Although sexual difficulties are a common occurrence amongst everyday people, it’s often a taboo topic to discuss. Sexual difficulties have been known to affect about 43% of women and 31% of men according to the National Library of Medicine.
Whether it’s due to embarrassment or shame, talking to another person about intimate health isn’t always easy—especially if you’re unsure about why or what’s happening.
If you’d like to learn some information about sexual difficulties on your own, then look no further. Let’s take a look at some of these obstacles.
Types of Sexual Dysfunctions
There are a few different types of sexual dysfunctions. Some include:
- Vaginal dryness- A lack of healthy lubrication and moisture.
- Erectile Dysfunction- The inability to get or maintain an erection.
- Pain during intercourse- Persistent pain in your genitals while having sex.
- Inability to reach orgasm- Not being able to reach an orgasm despite sexual stimulation.
What Can Cause Sexual Difficulties?
It’s no secret that life events (at any age) have the ability to influence many aspects of who we are. Past or present situations can affect all aspects of your health—namely sexual health. Let’s take a look at a few influences.
Traumatic events
Sometimes a negative experience that you’ve had previously can heavily influence your current sex life. This can happen due to you associating sex with a negative experience that you’ve had. Your strong emotional reaction whether it be terror, frustration, or anxiety can result in difficulties during intercourse. Flashbacks or general PTSD can make it hard for you to find the act of sex pleasurable, therefore increasing the chances of sex-related problems.
Stress and anxiety
While you may think that stress is only turning your hair grey, it actually can affect your sex life—mainly by influencing your mental clarity. Stress can lower your libido by affecting your cortisol levels and decreasing your sex hormones. Also, don’t forget performance anxiety. High levels of anxiety can stem from insecurities regarding intimate hygiene, your sexual experience, body type, and much more. These insecurities can make your focus shift from having sex to embarrassment and worry, leading to bigger problems.
Health conditions
Your physical health plays a large role in your intimate health. While you shouldn’t jump to conclusions, often sexual difficulties like erectile dysfunction are indicators of a larger health problem. Health conditions such as kidney disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes are all conditions that can signify it’s time to book an appointment with your doctor. Sexual dysfunctions are not always an indicator but a result—meaning chemotherapy treatments, menopause, injury, and more can affect your intimate health.
How to Improve Your Situation
Like most things, there are solutions to the problems that you’re experiencing. Just know that you are not alone, and there are various ways to go about fixing your situation. Let’s review a few.
Research sexual aids
Sexual aids are anything that can help you feel more comfortable during intercourse. Some options include vibrators, ethically sourced adult movies, organic lube, and more. These aids can help with everything from arousal issues to low libido. It’s a matter of determining which option is best for you. If you find yourself needing additional help, you may consider longer-term options like erectile dysfunction medication for men or arousal pills for women.
Consult a qualified professional
Schedule an appointment with a professional sex therapist, a psychologist, or your general doctor. You can make an appointment with one or all of them depending on your situation. They all can give you their professional, unbiased feedback and are the best people to discuss your situation with. They are trained to give you their professional opinion which will help in the long run. Using the feedback from a professional will allow you to work towards developing a strategy to improve or get rid of your sexual dysfunction altogether.
Take control of things
While you can’t control every aspect of your life, you can control most parts of your intimate health. If you are aware that stress is affecting your sex life, take the reigns by incorporating self-care into your daily routine. If you know that intimate hygiene gives you anxiety, consider purchasing a sex kit to make you feel a little more comfortable and prepared. As long as you make changes that help reduce the effects of the factors that you can control.
Hopefully, this article will help you gain a better understanding of the sexual difficulties people commonly face and how to go about finding a solution.