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Arousal disorders in women: complaints and complexities

Sandra R Leiblum
Med J Aust 2003; 178 (12): 638-640. || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2003.tb05392.x
Published online: 16 June 2003

Abstract

  • Female sexual arousal disorders constitute a varied spectrum of difficulties, ranging from the total absence of genital or subjective pleasurable arousal to feelings of persistent genital arousal in the absence of sexual desire.

  • Arousal disorders can be associated with physical factors (eg, vaginal dryness) or psychological factors (eg, anxiety, distraction), or a combination of both. The most common complaint is the absence of subjective sexual excitement or pleasure despite adequate physical arousal (eg, lubrication).

  • Pharmacological and physical treatments include the use of oestrogen, lubricants and vibrators. There may be a place for drugs that increase vasocongestion and vasodilation.

  • Psychological therapy addresses inhibitions, and interpersonal and motivational factors.

Female sexual arousal disorder has been defined as "the persistent or recurrent inability to attain or maintain sufficient sexual excitement, causing personal distress, which may be expressed as a lack of subjective excitement or genital lubrication/swelling or other somatic responses".1 Subjective arousal includes both mental excitement and an awareness of sexual pleasure. Hypoactive sexual desire disorder has been defined as "the persistent or recurrent deficiency (or absence) of sexual fantasies, and/or desire for, or receptivity to, sexual activity, which causes personal distress".1 Women may have adequate lubrication and even muscle tension, but may not report any awareness of psychological excitement. In fact, psychophysiological research studies often find a dysynchrony between objective measures of vasocongestion and self-perception of genital engorgement or subjective excitement.2,3

Until recently, female sexual arousal disorders received little attention. Despite the fact that a significant number of both younger and older women complained of lubrication difficulties and lack of subjective arousal, complaints of low desire and anorgasmia received greater research and clinical attention. It was only after the impressive success of sildenafil citrate (Viagra) in treating male erectile dysfunction that female arousal problems moved to centre stage. In the past 5 years, disordered, diminished or absent female sexual arousal has become the focus of considerable research, in the hope that phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (such as sildenafil citrate), hormonal preparations and/or various mechanical devices or vibrators might enhance vasocongestion and sexual sensation.

Reliable and enjoyable sexual arousal is one of the most important components of the female sexual response cycle in that it helps launch sexual desire for many women. Especially for older women or women in relationships of long duration, it is feelings of subjective arousal, rather than intrinsic desire, that help trigger sexual interest.4 Furthermore, lack of sufficient sexual arousal may be responsible for orgasmic and/or sexual pain problems in women.

The actual prevalence of arousal complaints is difficult to determine, as there is tremendous overlap between arousal and desire problems in women.5 Most women, as well as most clinicians, have difficulty differentiating problems of arousal from problems of desire. It is sometimes helpful to know which complaint came first and which is the most troubling for the woman. The most common complaint is genital arousal (lubrication and muscle tension) without awareness of subjective sexual excitement or pleasure. The spectrum of arousal complaints and a list of questions that are useful in evaluating arousal difficulties are shown in Box 1 and Box 2.

A unique problem that has recently been identified is that of persistent sexual arousal. While uncommon, it is reported to be extremely distressing for women who experience it. The condition is characterised by feelings of spontaneous and persistent genital arousal that occur without any conscious awareness of sexual desire.6,7 These feelings of physiological arousal, which can occur despite the absence of a stimulus, persist for extended periods (days or weeks) and do not subside even if the woman has one or more orgasms. Many women do not report this complaint to their physician because of feelings of shame or embarrassment, and are relieved to learn that the complaint is not unknown.

Treatment
Psychological approaches

A variety of psychological and interpersonal factors can impede sexual arousal. These include lack of attraction (sexual, emotional, or both) to the partner, sexual boredom, negative emotions (such as guilt, shame, anxiety, anger and resentment), upsetting thoughts or feelings associated with arousal, and, most significantly, distraction or inattention to the sexual context.8 Mothers of infants, for example, often report an inability to focus on their partner or their sexual sensations. Consequently, even though the woman's body responds appropriately to sexual caresses, she may be mentally disengaged and unaware of any sensations of arousal.

When a woman seeks help for a sexual arousal disorder, it is important to examine possible underlying factors that may facilitate or interfere with sexual arousal. A woman may be motivated to be sexually active in order to become pregnant, to avoid punishment or to satisfy a partner. On the other hand, she may be motivated to resist sexual arousal in order to thwart a partner, avoid flashbacks associated with past sexual abuse, or to resist feelings of loss of control associated with sexual abandonment. Psychological treatment usually involves exploring the individual inhibitions and interpersonal factors that diminish arousal, and increasing the conditions that facilitate it, such as the use of erotica, fantasy or sexual aids. Therapy is sometimes indicated for resolving inhibitions that may arise from fear of abandonment or loss of control, or feeling unentitled to sexual pleasure.

Treatment for persistent sexual arousal

Treatment for persistent sexual arousal is elusive. A careful and thorough pelvic examination is essential, as well as an evaluation of hormonal, neurological, anatomical and/or pharmaceutical contributions. Duplex ultrasound may be helpful in identifying abnormal clitoral blood flow. Some authors have reported success with cognitive reframing of the arousal as a healthy response,9 while others have tried antidepressants, antiandrogenic agents and anaesthetising gels. To date, no single cause for the condition has been identified, so no single treatment can be recommended. In a recent case, a 55-year-old woman complained she had experienced clitoral engorgement since the age of 18. An internal pudendal arteriogram revealed a 3 cm pelvic arteriovenous malformation with a single arterial link to the clitoral artery. The woman reported relief after embolisation (Irwin Goldstein, Institute of Sexual Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, personal communication). This is the only case report, to my knowledge, of an obvious physical cause. While not a currently recognised arousal dysfunction, any report of persistent genital arousal should be taken seriously and possible causes should be investigated.

Conclusion

Female sexual arousal disorders constitute a varied spectrum of difficulties ranging from the total absence of genital or subjective pleasurable arousal to feelings of persistent genital arousal in the absence of sexual desire. There is much unknown about the various physical, anatomical and psychological causes and effective treatments for these complaints, but it is important to take them seriously, as they may be responsible for other female sexual dysfunctions, including hypoactive desire, anorgasmia and sexual pain.

  • Sandra R Leiblum1

  • UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, USA.


Correspondence: 

Competing interests:

The author is a consultant to and holds stock in Pfizer.

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  • 5. Laan E, Everaerd W, van Lunsen R, et al. Determinants of subjective experience of sexual arousal in women: feedback from genital arousal and erotic stimulus content. Psychophysiology 1995; 32: 444-451.
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  • 9. Segraves RT, Segraves KB. Diagnosis of female arousal disorder. Sex Marital Ther 1991; 6: 9-13.

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