Female Sexual Arousal Disorder. SAD or Not getting turned on before sexual intercourse.
Written by Dr Andrew Rynne
Female Sexual Arousal Disorder or SAD syndrome.
Because they are often confused, it is important from the beginning to distinguish between sexual desire or libido and arousal. Desire comes first arousal second. Here we are considering a woman’s inability to experience arousal in spite of strong desire or libido. Not being able to enjoy intercourse due to an inability to become aroused can put a real strain on your daily life, as well as your sex life. It can spiral into a major problem you feel you’ll never find a cure for. It can make a woman feel utterly inadequate and miserable. Her sex partner also will often incorrectly blame himself and this can make matters even worse.
If that happens to you, it is very easy to feel that no one fully understands what you are going through, or is prepared to take your lack of genital arousal seriously. Searching for a quick fix for your problem on the internet can make matters even worse. It is tempting for you to consider the many pills, potions, lubricants and gels available both online, and in some cases, as a prescription via your GP who may also not understand this problem.
Female Sexual Arousal Disorder (FSAD) is a major component of female sexual dysfunction. It may be defined as the persistent or recurring inability of a woman to achieve or maintain an adequate lubrication/swelling response during sexual activity. This occurs in spite of strong desire (libido) and sexual stimulation. Lack of desire or libido is a separate problem and it is important not to confuse the two issues.
The causes may be either physiological or psychological. The effects may be either lifelong or acquired, generalised or situational. The consequences are the same however--- pain and discomfort during intercourse, sexual avoidance and sexual tensions in a relationship. Treatments are as many and as variable as are the causes and ramifications of this common sexual dysfunction.
Article author
About the Author
Dr. Andrew Rynne is a General Practitioner with a special interest in sexual dysfunction in men and women. He has over fifteen years experience in treating people with sexual dysfunction, absence or orgasm, arousal difficulties, low sex drive or libido. He is medical director of an Internet driven medical practise at www.andrewrynne.com He was the first doctor in Ireland to perform a vasectomy under local anaesthesia in 1974.
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