backup og meta

Most Common Female Sexual Problems: What Could They Be?

Most Common Female Sexual Problems: What Could They Be?

Did you know that about 30-50% of women will experience female sexual problems at one point in their life? Just like with men, it’s important for women to know about the most common female sexual problems.

Being aware of these problems can urge more women to seek help and address these problems. This in turn, can lead to healthier, happier sex lives and better relationships with their partners.

Most Common Female Sexual Problems

Female sexual problems are also referred to as sexual dysfunction. Here are some of the most common female sexual problems, their causes, and what women can do about it:

1. Low Sex Drive

It’s perfectly normal for a woman to have a low sex drive from time to time. However, when a woman constantly has little to no sex drive at all, then it starts to become a problem. This could manifest as simply not wanting to have sex, or not being interested in anything sexual whatsoever.

What Causes It?

Among the most common female sexual problems is low sex drive, and it can be caused by a number of things. It can be the result of psychological factors, such as stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems.

It could also be due to an illness, such as cancer, diabetes, or cardiovascular problems. And it can also be the result of hormonal changes.

2. Sexual Arousal Disorder

Sexual arousal disorder is a condition wherein a person wants to have sex, but they find it hard or even impossible to get aroused.

This means that a person desires sex, but when the situation presents itself, they can’t get aroused, or they don’t derive any pleasure from having sex.

What Causes It?

Similar to a low sex drive, sexual arousal disorder can have both physical and psychological causes.

The most common psychological causes include:

  • Low self-esteem
  • Anxiety
  • Stress
  • Trauma
  • Guilt
  • Relationship problems

Physical causes include:

  • Hormonal changes
  • Lack of blood flow to the vagina
  • Nerve damage
  • Infection in the vagina

Additionally, older women also tend to experience sexual arousal disorder more often compared to younger women. This might be due to the effects of menopause which can cause hormonal changes.

3. Orgasmic Disorder

Orgasmic disorder is also included in the most common female sexual problems. In contrast to low sexual desire and sexual arousal disorder, women with orgasmic disorder desire sex, and are also capable of being aroused. Additionally, they can also derive pleasure from having sex.

The problem is that even with prolonged stimulation, they find it impossible to reach orgasm. This is different from situations wherein women can’t orgasm during sex, but can do so if they masturbate. Women with orgasmic disorder cannot have an orgasm, regardless of whether they have sex or masturbate.

What Causes It?

Here are some of the possible causes of orgasmic disorder:

  • Sex ends too quickly
  • Relationship problems
  • Anxious about having sex
  • Previous traumatic experience with sex
  • Psychological problems
  • Not engaging in foreplay
  • Couples not knowing how to pleasure each other

most common female sexual problems

4. Sexual Pain Disorder

Sexual pain disorder, as the name suggests, means that a woman experiences a lot of pain during sex. The medical term for this is dyspareunia.

The symptoms of sexual pain disorder include:

  • Pain during sexual penetration
  • Pain while thrusting
  • A burning sensation while having sex
  • Pain when using tampons or menstrual cups
  • Experiencing prolonged pain even after having sex

Sexual pain disorder can cause sex to be a negative experience, and it can cause problems in a relationship.

What Causes It?

Sexual pain disorder can be caused by a number of things such as the following:

  • Not enough lubrication
  • Vaginismus or muscle spasms in the pelvic floor muscles
  • Infection and inflammation in the vagina
  • Injury in the vagina
  • A congenital problem that makes sex painful

How to Address Common Female Sexual Problems

If you experience any of these common female sexual problems, seek help. It might feel embarrassing to open up about these things to a medical professional, but remember that they are here to help you.

In some cases, a woman may require counseling, and might be asked, together with their partner, to talk about their feelings regarding sex. This can help in dealing with any underlying psychological causes of these problems.

With regard to physical causes, a gynecologist can help you figure out what you can do about it. They will be the ones to diagnose your problem, and prescribe the right form of treatment to get better.

The important thing is to seek help and not disregard your condition.

Learn more about Sex Tips here

[embed-health-tool-ovulation]

Disclaimer

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Female sexual dysfunction – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/female-sexual-dysfunction/symptoms-causes/syc-20372549, Accessed February 3, 2021

Overview of Sexual Dysfunction in Women – Women’s Health Issues – MSD Manual Consumer Version, https://www.msdmanuals.com/home/women-s-health-issues/sexual-dysfunction-in-women/overview-of-sexual-dysfunction-in-women, Accessed February 3, 2021

Sexual Problems in Women – Topic Overview, https://www.stlukesonline.org/health-services/health-information/, Accessed February 3, 2021healthwise/2015/05/15/14/18/sexual-problems-in-women

Female Sexual Dysfunction: Therapeutic Options and Experimental Challenges, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3008577/, Accessed February 3, 2021

Sexual Problems in Women | Dyspareunia | MedlinePlus, https://medlineplus.gov/sexualproblemsinwomen.html, Accessed February 3, 2021

Current Version

01/13/2022

Written by Jan Alwyn Batara

Medically reviewed by Jobelle Ann Dela Cruz Bigalbal, MD

Updated by: Vincent Sales


People Are Also Reading This

Sexual Aversion Disorder: What You Need to Know

Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder Treatment and Diagnosis


Medically reviewed by

Jobelle Ann Dela Cruz Bigalbal, MD

General Practitioner


Written by Jan Alwyn Batara · Updated Jan 13, 2022

ad iconadvertisement

Was this article helpful?

ad iconadvertisement
ad iconadvertisement