Surge of Female Sexual Problems

/Home/Complications of Diabetes/Diabetes and Sexual Problems/Diabetes and Sexual Problem Prevention

Surge of Female Sexual Problems
Posted on Jan 31, 2009 under Diabetes Facts, Healthy News
AllAboutDiabetes.com

Pinky, 49, a type-2 diabetic and a doting mother of three has been complaining that she could not function well sexually. She is unable to reach orgasm, feels pain during intercourse and has dwindling interest in having a sexual experience. All along, she has thought of these as just menopausal symptoms, ignoring them although they have been causing her distress. But what she does not know is that she could be experiencing female sexual dysfunction.

Female Sexual Dysfunction
Among other dysfunctions, Female Sexual Dysfunction can be difficult to recognize. “There is no empirical standard by which to assess female sexual dysfunction,” says endocrinologist Dr. Mary Anne Lim-Abrahan during the 2005 ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Society Congress. Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD) has no definite meaning until a urology group got together, looked at the physical, emotional and psychological factors that affect sexual responses.After studying these factors, the group came up with a definition that FSD is a disturbance or pain during sexual activity.

Although poorly defined, FSD is caused by many factors. Sexual dysfunction in women can be caused by changes in a woman’s sexual behavior that can occur after childbirth or menopause. Other factors that can impede sexual responses are dissatisfaction with any emotional, relational or physical facet of life, sexual inhibitions, stress, decreased levels of sex hormones and medical complications such as diabetes and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).

The symptoms of FSD can be easily detected. It includes the lack of sexual desire, inability to achieve orgasm, difficulty in becoming aroused, and apprehension about sexual performance. Other symptoms are pain during intercourse or faiiure to derive pleasure from sex. The doctor may recommend a physical and psychosocial examination to diagnose FSD. They may also perform an extensive evaluation that may include the measurement of hormones, vaginal pH and genital vibratory perception thresholds in order to monitor responses to sexual stimulation. They may also use ultrasonography to measure blood flow to the reproductive organs.

Classification of Female Sexual Dysfunction
Female Sexual Dysfunctions, in general, can be classified as Lifelong (it has always been present), Acquired (at some point the woman was able to function normally), Situational (it occurs in some situations), and Generalized (it occurs regardless of the situation). Hypoactive Sexual Dysfunction happens when a female lacks sexual fantasies and thoughts that can trigger sexual activity. There is also a pervasive inhibition of sexual desire. This may be caused by chronic physical disease, depression due to hormone deficiency, and stress. It can also be caused by psychological impacts of life’s events.

A woman suffering from Sexual Arousal Disorder does not feel any erotic sensations and may even find physical contact offensive, or may find it pleasurable only to a certain point. Her vagina does not lubricate nor expand and she does not reach orgasm, which is the third stage in human sexual responses. But if she does reach it, there is an inability to achieve or maintain recurrence of the sexual excitement. “In our local dialect, we call it manhid,” adds Dr. Lim-Abrahan. On the other hand, women with Orgasmic Disorder may be very sexually aroused but fail to reach orgasm. Women may also have Sexual Pain Disorder and experience dyspareunia or pain in the genital area before, during or after intercourse. They may also experience vaginismus or the severe tightening of the vaginal muscles during attempted penetration.

Female Sexual Dysfunction and Diabetes

Aside from stress and depression brought about by diabetes, diabetic neuropathy* also causes female sexual dysfunction. Diabetes can damage sensitive nerve endings via the excess of glucose or sugar in the blood. Damaged nerves in the female genital area can reduce or interfere with the ability to feel sensation thus leading to a difficulty of achieving arousal and orgasm. Poor control of blood sugar can lead to tiredness and a lack of interest in sex. Also, women who suffer from poor blood glucose control are more prone to vaginal yeast infection, which can cause painful sex, as the yeasts thrive in high sugar environments.Thus, glucose management plays an important role in preventing nerve damage, and once a nerve has been destroyed, sensation can be rarely recovered.

Proper diet and exercise can help alleviate and prevent female sexual dysfunction. Having a diet that is low in saturated and trans-fats and high in good quality carbohydrates plus following a rigorous exercise plan can help improve circulation.With these measures,the blood flow to sexual organs may improve.

© Copyright 2009 All About Diabetes All Rights Reserved