psychosomatic sexology
Stress and sex life
Sexuality problem is widespread. A recent research study showed that sexual dysfunctions are increasing in the United States, ranging from 10% to 52% of men and 25% to 63% of women between the ages of 18 and 59. For women, sexual problems have a strong positive association with low feelings of physical and emotional satisfaction and decreased feelings of happiness. Emotional and stress-related problems among both women and men result in an increased risk of experiencing sexual difficulties. Persons seem to associate sex to stress owing to cultural and social models, or to personal insecurity, or to low self-esteem, or to competitive social relations. These are some results of studies in the USA and Western Countries. Also intercultural misunderstandings, fluidity in gender differences, and male/female cultural conflict, don't help in having a relaxed and de-stressed sex life.
Sexuality problem is widespread. A recent research study showed that sexual dysfunctions are increasing in the United States, ranging from 10% to 52% of men and 25% to 63% of women between the ages of 18 and 59. For women, sexual problems have a strong positive association with low feelings of physical and emotional satisfaction and decreased feelings of happiness. Emotional and stress-related problems among both women and men result in an increased risk of experiencing sexual difficulties. Persons seem to associate sex to stress owing to cultural and social models, or to personal insecurity, or to low self-esteem, or to competitive social relations. These are some results of studies in the USA and Western Countries. Also intercultural misunderstandings, fluidity in gender differences, and male/female cultural conflict, don't help in having a relaxed and de-stressed sex life.
Reconsidering women's psychosomatic sexual dysfunctions
An international group of researchers of the Universities of Amsterdam, Texas, Uppsala, Maastricht, Vancouver has underlineed the need to reconsider the revision of nosography about some psychosomatic sexual dysfunctions. In light of various shortcomings of the traditional nosology of women's sexual disorders for both clinical practice and research, an international multi-disciplinary group has reviewed the evidence for traditional assumptions about women's sexual response. It is apparent that fullfillment of sexual desire is an uncommon reason/incentive for sexual activity for many women and, in fact, sexual desire is frequently experienced only after sexual stimuli have elicited subjective sexual arousal. The latter is often poorly correlated with genital vasocongestion. Complaints of lack of subjective arousal despite apparently normal genital vasocongestion are common. Based on the review of existing evidence-based research, many modifications to the definitions of women's sexual dysfunctions are recommended. There is a new definition of sexual interest/desire disorder, sexual arousal disorders are separated into genital and subjective subtypes and the recently recognized condition of persistent sexual arousal is included. The definition of dyspareunia reflects the possibility of the pain precluding intercourse. The anticipation and fear of pain characteristic of vaginismus is noted while the assumed muscular spasm is omitted given the lack of evidence. Finally, a recommendation is made that all diagnoses be accompanied by descriptors relating to associated contextual factors and to the degree of distress.
An international group of researchers of the Universities of Amsterdam, Texas, Uppsala, Maastricht, Vancouver has underlineed the need to reconsider the revision of nosography about some psychosomatic sexual dysfunctions. In light of various shortcomings of the traditional nosology of women's sexual disorders for both clinical practice and research, an international multi-disciplinary group has reviewed the evidence for traditional assumptions about women's sexual response. It is apparent that fullfillment of sexual desire is an uncommon reason/incentive for sexual activity for many women and, in fact, sexual desire is frequently experienced only after sexual stimuli have elicited subjective sexual arousal. The latter is often poorly correlated with genital vasocongestion. Complaints of lack of subjective arousal despite apparently normal genital vasocongestion are common. Based on the review of existing evidence-based research, many modifications to the definitions of women's sexual dysfunctions are recommended. There is a new definition of sexual interest/desire disorder, sexual arousal disorders are separated into genital and subjective subtypes and the recently recognized condition of persistent sexual arousal is included. The definition of dyspareunia reflects the possibility of the pain precluding intercourse. The anticipation and fear of pain characteristic of vaginismus is noted while the assumed muscular spasm is omitted given the lack of evidence. Finally, a recommendation is made that all diagnoses be accompanied by descriptors relating to associated contextual factors and to the degree of distress.
