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Woman in Bed

Anorgasmia

What is Anorgasmia?

1 in 10 women never achieves orgasm in their life. Roughly 50% of women are unhappy with how frequently they orgasm.

Orgasms may vary in intensity and frequency from woman to woman. The amount and type of stimulation needed may also vary. Though most women do need some form of direct or indirect clitoral stimulation to reach an orgasm.

Anorgasmia is the consistent inability to reach orgasm even after adequate stimulation. It's normal to not orgasm every time. But if you aren't able to reach orgasm almost every time and this is causing distress to you or your partner, then you should seek professional help.

Anorgasmia can be:

  • Primary anorgasmia: if you have never had an orgasm in your life

  • Acquired anorgasmia: you used to get orgasms but are now not able to.

Acquired Anorgasmia can be:

  • Situational: if you can achieve orgasms with some partners or in some situations (masturbation/sex). But not able to reach orgasm in all situations and with all partners.

  • Generalized: if you aren't able to reach orgasm in any situation or with any partner.

What causes Anorgasmia?

Orgasms in women can be a little complicated. To achieve orgasm following factors have to fall in place:

  • Mental arousal

  • Physical arousal

  • Emotional stability

  • Nerve supply of vulva

  • Blood supply of vulva

  • Hormone levels

  • Neurochemicals

We have compiled a list of causes that can create orgasmic problems. See if you can find a cause for your orgasmic difficulty.

  • Hysterectomy: some gynecological surgeries such as hysterectomy, ovaries removal may cause orgasmic difficulty by reducing the hormone level or nerve supply.

  • Anti-depressants/Anti-anxiety pills: Some medications especially SSRIs can cause low libido, delay in orgasm, or anorgasmia by changing the neurochemicals.

  • Aging/Menopause: Hormone levels drop due to aging and menopause.

  • Smoking: it can reduce the blood supply can thus cause difficulty reaching orgasm.

  • Uncomfortable/painful sex: this can be due to vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, etc.

  • Sexual abuse history

  • Depression/Anxiety/Stress

  • Parkinson’s disease

  • Multiple Sclerosis

What should you do?

Get examined by a trained Gynaecologist/Dermatologist to look for any physical causes. Get your hormone status evaluated by simple blood tests.

Treatment

Treatment depends upon the cause. So a proper workup to find a cause is very important before starting treatment. Treatment to few common causes are mentioned below:

  • Vaginal moisturizing creams and water-based lubricants can be used in cases of dry vagina/atrophic vaginitis.

  • Estrogen gels/creams can be used for age-related thinning and dryness of the vagina.

  • Treatment of dyspareunia.

  • Stop smoking

  • Replace the anti-depressant with bupropion (another anti-depressant). Bupropion is less likely to cause arousal and orgasmic side effects.

  • Sexual abuse trauma management by a qualified psychologist.

  • Depression/anxiety treatment by Psychiatrist.

  • Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) or Mindfulness based cognitive behavior therapy (MCBT) can be used for psychological causes.

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