Sexual Health and Female Sexual Dysfunction

Sexual Health and Female Sexual Dysfunction

“Female sexual dysfunction is a medical term for
ongoing sexual problems that upset you or your partner.
Problems may involve sexual response, desire…”.1

Umbrella

What may the Sexual Health and Female Sexual Dysfunction Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD)
  • Frigidity
  • Sexual Dysfunction In Females/Women
  • Sexual Problems In Females/Women

Definition

What is female sexual dysfunction (FSD)?

DotS the definition of FSD may vary.In Female Sexual Dysfunction: Symptoms & Causes – Overview the (United States) Mayo Clinic’s definition is:

“Female sexual dysfunction is a medical term for ongoing sexual problems that upset you or your partner. Problems may involve sexual response, desire, orgasm or pain during sex”.2

Types

What are some types of FSD?

In Female Sexual Dysfunction: Symptoms & Causes – Symptoms the Mayo Clinic explain:

“Symptoms vary depending on the type of sexual dysfunction. Symptoms may include:

  • Low sexual desire. This most common of female sexual dysfunctions involves a lack of interest in sex and not wanting to have sex
  • Sexual arousal disorder. Even if you want sex, sometimes it may be hard to get or stay aroused during sex
  • Orgasmic disorder. You have ongoing trouble having an orgasm even with enough sexual arousal
  • Sexual pain disorder. You have pain when having sex”.3

In Sexual Health: Sexual Dysfunction the Menopause Society (formerly the North American Menopause Society) elaborate on:

“There are four areas in which this may occur: sexual desire, arousal, orgasm, and sexual pain. These problems frequently overlap—for example, someone who doesn’t experience sexual desire may also experience difficulty with arousal or having an orgasm.

  • Sexual Desire…
  • Hormone Changes…
  • Partner Sexual Problems…
  • Medical Problems…”.4

In Sexual Health: Sexual Challenges the Menopause Society also explain:

“Beyond sexual desire, there are three other categories of sexual problems for women:

  • Difficulty with arousal…
  • Difficulty with orgasm…
  • Sexual pain”.5

Anorgasmia

What is anorgasmia?

DotS the definition of anorgasmia may vary. The Mayo Clinic’s definition is:

“Anorgasmia is delayed, infrequent or absent orgasms — or significantly less-intense orgasms — after sexual arousal and adequate sexual stimulation. Women who have problems with orgasms and who feel significant distress about those problems may be diagnosed with anorgasmia”.6

Is there an association between anorgasmia and aging?

In Anorgasmia In Women: Symptoms & Causes – Causes: Physical Causes the Mayo Clinic explain:

  • “Age-Related Changes To the Body. Changes to the body after menopause or later in life may contribute to various types of sexual dysfunction”.7

Is anorgasmia a concern?

In Anorgasmia In Women: Symptoms & Causes – Symptoms: When To See A Doctor the Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

“Talk to your healthcare professional if you have concerns about your sex life, especially if you’re concerned about your ability to have an orgasm”.8

FSD Common or Not

Sexual Health and Female Sexual DysfunctionHow common is FSD?

In Sexual Dysfunction, dated 29 May 2024, the (United States) Cleveland Clinic note in :

“Up to 43% of women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) and 31% of men and people assigned male at birth (AMAB) report some degree of sexual dysfunction”.9

FSD Cause

What causes FSD?

In Female Sexual Dysfunction: Symptoms & Causes – Overview: Causes the Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

“Sexual dysfunction problems often start when hormones change. This might be after having a baby or during menopause. Major illness, such as cancer, diabetes or heart disease, also can add to sexual dysfunction.

Sexual health and Female Sexual DysfunctionFactors that add to sex problems include the following:

  • Physical…
  • Hormonal…
  • Psychological and social…”.10

Health Care Provider

What if I think I have FSD?

In Sexual Dysfunction: Living With – When Should I See My Healthcare Provider? the Cleveland Clinic encourage us to:

“Contact your healthcare provider if you experience sexual dysfunction for three months or longer. If it begins interfering with your relationships or causing you and/or your partner(s) distress, it’s time to seek help. Your provider will ask for your medical history and a complete list of any medications and supplements you’re taking to get to the root cause”.11

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Sexual Health and Female Sexual Dysfunction?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

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Links

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    Sexual Health and Female Sexual Dysfunction

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Female Sexual Dysfunction: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 30 October 2024. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/female-sexual-dysfunction/symptoms-causes/syc-20372549 Accessed: 18 September 2026
  2. Female Sexual Dysfunction: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 30 October 2024. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/female-sexual-dysfunction/symptoms-causes/syc-20372549 Accessed: 18 September 2026
  3. Female Sexual Dysfunction: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 30 October 2024. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/female-sexual-dysfunction/symptoms-causes/syc-20372549 Accessed: 18 September 2026
  4. Sexual Health: Sexual Dysfunction. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/sexual-health Accessed: 18 September 2026
  5. Sexual Health: Sexual Challenges. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/sexual-health Accessed: 18 September 2026
  6. Anorgasmia In Women: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 29 February 2024. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anorgasmia/symptoms-causes/syc-20369422 Accessed: 18 September 2026
  7. Anorgasmia In Women: Symptoms & Causes: Causes – Physical Causes. 29 February 2024. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anorgasmia/symptoms-causes/syc-20369422 Accessed: 18 September 2026
  8. Anorgasmia In Women: Symptoms & Causes – Symptoms: When To See A Doctor. 29 February 2024. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anorgasmia/symptoms-causes/syc-20369422 Accessed: 18 September 2026
  9. Sexual Dysfunction. Last Reviewed: 29 May 2024. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9121-sexual-dysfunction Accessed: 18 September 2026
  10. Female Sexual Dysfunction: Symptoms & Causes – Overview: Causes. 30 October 2024. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/female-sexual-dysfunction/symptoms-causes/syc-20372549 Accessed: 18 September 2026
  11. Sexual Dysfunction: Living With – When Should I See My Healthcare Provider? Last Reviewed: 29 May 2024. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9121-sexual-dysfunction Accessed: 18 September 2026
Topic Last Updated: 18 September 2026 – Topic Last Reviewed: 18 September 2026

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