Glossary On Inability to become aroused

Inability to become aroused / Female Sexual Arousal Disorder (FSAD)

Women suffering from Female Sexual Arousal Disorder repetitively face difficulty in getting aroused or maintaining the arousal sufficiently for sexual intercourse to occur. Inability to become aroused does not mean that the woman has no desire for sex – it simply means that even though the desire is present, the necessary physiological changes in the body (such as vaginal lubrication, increased blood flow to the labia, clitoris and vagina) do not occur.

Almost 20% of all women suffer from a difficulty in getting aroused. Due to this reason, the intercourse is often unsatisfactory or even painful. In the long run, lack of arousal can lead to avoidance of sexual intimacy and thus result in tension and discord.

Various reasons can lead to lack of sexual arousal in women:

• Physical causes such as damage to the blood vessels or nerves in the pelvic region; general medical conditions like coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus; hormonal problems like thyroid disorders, menopause, etc.
• Psychological factors like emotional stress, depression, past sexual abuse, problems with the partner, poor self-image
• Due to certain medications such as anti-depressive medication, antipsychotic drugs, contraceptive drugs, sedatives, etc.