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Sexual Wellness

Sexual Health and Wellness

  • Sexual Health and Wellness is a very important component of a woman’s life. It contributes greatly to her overall sense of self, social well-being and perception of her quality of life.
  • Sexual dysfunction can be a source of great distress and can lead to significant life disruption, low energy and relationship conflict.
  • Sexual Wellness is comprised of 4 functions: desire, arousal, orgasm and pain free sexual activity.

Desire

Desire is a motivational state triggered by external or internal stimuli to engage in sexual fantasies or activities.

What factors can inhibit desire?

  • Depression/anxiety/stress
  • Fatigue, meeting demands of others
  • Relationship conflict
  • Physical and sexual abuse
  • Medications
  • Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause
  • Endometriosis, pelvic pain
  • Body image concerns
  • Post-partum status
  • Life transition – new job, divorce etc.

What can increase desire?

  • Mindful attention to sexual cues (i.e. scent, touch, music, erotica)
  • Medications – Addyi, Testosterone
  • Treatment of pain syndromes
  • Relationship counseling
  • Tantric meditation
  • Reversal of vaginal atrophy

Arousal

  • Arousal is the mental and genital response to a sexual stimulus, trigger or cue. Mindful attention to the stimulus fuels continued arousal, more desire and ultimately sexual satisfaction.
  • This feedback loop proves the importance of the mind/body connection in the female sexual response.

What factors inhibit arousal?

  • Intrusive thoughts (i.e. listing of chores, concerns regarding body image or sexual performance)
  • Previous sexual trauma
  • Guilt/Depression
  • Judgmental attention of self or partner
  • Pain
  • Societal/cultural beliefs

What can enhance arousal?

  • Attention to all 5 senses
  • Sensate focus massage
  • Sexual enhancers (i.e. vibrators, arousal gels/oils)
  • Medications: Buproprion, Vylessi, Ristela, Viagra, Testosterone, CBD
  • Gazing, edging, tantra

Orgasm

Orgasm may occur in response to sexual stimuli. During orgasm, dopamine (the “feel good” hormone) and oxytocin (the “love hormone”) are released. The hormones increase positive emotions and counteract the “stress hormone”, cortisol.

  • Disorders of orgasm include anorgasmia (persistent inability to experience orgasm despite sufficient stimulation), reduced intensity of orgasm or dysorgasmia (painful orgasm).

Anorgasmia Cause

  • Belief or taboo about sex
  • Hormone imbalance
  • Lack of connection with partner
  • Stress
  • Medications/Alcohol
  • Medical illness (i.e. M.S., Lichen Sclerosus)

Treatment

  • CBT/Mindfulness
  • Sexual enhancers (i.e. “smart” vibrators like the “Lioness”)
  • Sensate focus exercises

Dysorgasmia (painful orgasm) Causes

  • Increased pelvic floor muscle tone
  • Anxiety/Depression
  • P.I.D., Endometriosis
  • Nerve injury
  • U.T.I.

Treatment

  • Physical therapy
  • NSAID prior to sex
  • Counseling/Rx of underlying medical problems

Pain Syndromes affecting sex

  • Vulvodynia
  • GSM
  • Endometriosis
  • Previous pelvic surgery
  • Lichen Sclerosus
  • Uterine Fibroids

Did you know that……?

  • 80% of couples experience a discrepancy in desire and that is normal!
  • Busy partners schedule sex, and it increases anticipation and pleasure
  • Solo sex is very healthy and helps with mood, sleep, and self-image
  • “Coregasm” is real and can happen when engaged in core exercise workouts!

At Modern Women’s Care we offer in-depth consultation regarding your sexual wellness. We explore all the root causes of sexual dysfunction and are equipped to treat with physical therapy, laser therapy, medication, vaginal dilation and more. We prescribe to the mind-body connection approach to achieve optimum sexual wellness.