Women & Sex

Female sexuality

• For women, sexual response is complex and involves a mind-body connection.
• Female sexual response often has as much to do with feelings for the partner as it does with the sexual stimuli.
• Beyond having a sex drive, many women are sexual because they want to get closer to or communicate their affection for their partner.
• For women, emotional intimacy, such as touching and holding hands, is an essential prelude to sexual intimacy.

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Understanding Female Sexual Response
Female sexual response is divided into these phases:

• Desire: When a woman wants to have a sexual experience or stimulation.
• Arousal: This phase involves physical changes in the vagina, clitoris, breasts, labia, and uterus.
• Plateau: This is the highest level of sexual excitement which involves increases in heart and breathing rate, blood pressure, and muscle tension.
• Orgasm: A release of sexual tension and of chemicals called endorphins gives a pleasant feeling of contentment and well-being.
• Resolution: The body gradually begins to return back to the place it was before sex began in this final phase.

Women want intimacy first
Women are usually more interested in intimacy than in sex of and for itself. A feeling of intimate closeness takes time to develop. Therefore, women want to take their time with a relationship. They want to go through the stages of getting to know the man, becoming friends, touching, kissing, hugging and showing affection. Eventually they get around to sex when they feel closeness and believe they are in love.

Female Sexual Problems

1. Low sexual desire-A woman is not interested in sex, has a low libido, or lack sex drive.
2. Arousal problems-A woman may have a desire for sex, but she does not seem to get aroused-or maintain arousal-during sex.
3. Orgasm problems-A woman may become aroused, but she cannot achieve an orgasm.
4. Sexual pain-A woman experiences pain connected with stimulation, intercourse, or vaginal contact.

Overcoming female sexual dysfunction

• A good first step if you're experiencing problems is to recognize the problem and to seek the help of a doctor.
• Talking regularly and openly with your partner about your feelings may help you reconnect and discover each other again.
• For physical conditions, your doctor likely will treat the underlying cause of your dysfunction.
• Medication-related side effects may require a change in medications.
• Physical changes brought on by menopause, such as vaginal dryness and thinning, might require the use of hormonal therapy or vaginal lubricants.
• To help strengthen your vaginal muscles or to increase sexual stimulation, your doctor may recommend a set of simple exercises (Kegel exercises), masturbation, use of a vibrator, or a clitoral-stimulation device available by prescription.
• For psychological or relationship problems, your doctor may recommend counseling or psychotherapy. Therapy often includes sex education, to include such topics as the physiology of your body and techniques to produce the stimulation you need to achieve orgasm.

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The health information contained herein is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace discussions with a healthcare provider. Decisions regarding patient care must be made with a healthcare provider, considering the unique characteristics of the patient.