CPch12 - Sexual Disorders Flashcards
how has the definition of what is normal or desirable in human sexual behavior varied in time and place?
- now inhibition of sexual expression is a problem
- 19th and 20th century: excess is a problem
> too much masturbation would lead to sexual dysfunctions in adulthood - Kellogg’s Corn Flakes were developed as foods that would lessen sexual interest
- 1970s access to birth control pill
- 1980s AIDS epidemic
- 1990s access to sexual content on the internet
What are the differences across cultures regarding the expression of sexual orientation?
- concealment is a function of social and political factors
- minorities still discriminated mostly in African and Middle Eastern Countries
> face imprisonment, blackmail, sexual assault, not legal recourse, … - in some cultures sexuality seen as part of well-being and pleasure, in others just as procreation
- DSM diagnosis for homosexuality until 1973
- (look at table)
Gender Dysphoria
- why is it a controversial diagnosis?
- present in DSM but highly debated
> cross-gender behavior is universal (animals engage in opposite sex’s behaviors and children play above gender)
> existence of diagnosis implicitly indicates need for treatment
> diagnosing gender nonconformity might foster more stigma - 90% of people with gender reassigning surgery do not regret it * better life satisfaction, mental health, sexual satisfaction, partner relation…
Research methods in sexuality studies
- Masters and Johnson (1966)
> direct observation and physiological measurements of people masturbating or having sexual intercourse + frank discussion + attention to biological processes
> penile or vaginal plethysmograph to measure arousal (blood flow to genitals)
what are the gender differences in sexuality?
- common misconception: women have sex for relationship closeness (in reality reported having sex for attraction and physical gratification)
- less gender differences in cultures with more empowering attitudes towards women
- men still engage in more masturbation and more pornography
Is this gender difference genuine, or could it reflect disclosure patterns?
- study: questionnaire administered to men and women, one condition with fake lie detector
- in condition with lie detector, women reported same rate of pornography and masturbation as men
= gender differences may be biased by attempt to match cultural expectations
subjective vs biological arousal in men and women
- interest and subjective arousal often co-occur for women
- women’s sexual interest often follows (rather than precedes) their biological arousal
- subjective arousal may not mirror biological arousal for women, but it does for men
> women experience rapid, automatic response to sexual stimuli of both genders, while men only when sexual stimuli of preferred gender - amount of blood flow to the vagina has little correlation with women’s subjective level of desire or arousal (e.g. report of little or no subjective arousal when biological arousal occurs)
Sexual Interest
sexual desire, often associated with sexually arousing fantasies or thoughts
Subjective arousal
self-perception of sexual excitement
Biological arousal
changes in blood flow to genitalia, which can be measured by penile or vaginal plethysmography
Orgasm
Ejaculation in men, contraction of the outer walls of the vagina in women
Resolution
post-orgasm phase
(for men further erection is not possible during a refractory period)
what are the three categories of sexual dysfunctions?
what disorders are there in each category?
- involving sexual desire, arousal and interest
> female sexual interest/arousal disorder (F)
> male hypoactive sexual desire disorder (M)
> erectile disorder (M) - orgasmic disorders
> female orgasmic disorder (F)
> premature ejaculation (M)
> delayed ejaculation (M) - involving sexual pain
> genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder (F)
what are general criteria for all sexual dysfunction disorders?
- dysfunction should be persistent and recurrent
- dysfunction should cause clinically significant distress
- at least present for six months
! diagnosis not appropriate if dysfunction is due to medical illness (e.g. diabetes) or psychological disorder (e.g. MDD)
Reporting of sexual dysfunctions
- one sexual dysfunction might lead to other s.d.
- sexual dysfunction disorder in one partner might lead to other partner developing sexual problems
- sexual distress due to severe relationship distress should not be regarder as disorder
Prevalence of sexual dysfunctions
(see photo)
Overview of disorders involving sexual interest, desire and arousal
- most subjective
- often partner will encourage other partner to look for clinician
- some disorders might be due to expectations about how much sex a person should want
- age might also influence expectations
- DSM-5 criteria for sexual interest/arousal disorder in women include biologically or subjectively low arousal or desire (more concern over lack of subjective than biological arousal)
Female sexual interest/arousal disorder
+ criteria
“Persistent deficits in sexual interest, biological arousal or subjective arousal”
* Diminished, absent or reduced frequency of at least three of the following:
- interest in sexual activity
- erotic thoughts or fantasies
- initiation of sexual activity and responsiveness to partner’s attempts to initiate
- sexual excitement/pleasure during 75% of sexual encounters
- sexual interest/arousal elicited by any internal or external erotic causes
- genital or nongenital sensations during 75% of sexual encounters
Male hypoactive sexual desire disorder
“Deficient or absent sexual fantasies and urges”
* on at least 75% of occasions:
- inability to attain an erection (or)
- inability to maintain an ereciton for completion of sexual activity (or)
- marked decrease in erectile rigidity that interferes with penetration or pleasure
Erectile disorder
“failure to attain or maintain an erection through completion of sexual activity”
- problem is physical arousal, not subjective
- prevalence increases sharply with age (50% of men >60 report erectile dysfunction)
Orgasmic Disorders
Female orgasmic disorder
“persistent absence or reduced intensity of orgasm after sexual excitement”
* on at least 75% of sexual occasions:
- marked delay, infrequency or absence or orgasm (or)
- markedly reduced intensity of orgasmic sensation
facts about female orgasm
- women more orgasms with age (learn more about their bodies and sexual needs overtime)
- orgasm threshold different among women
- more likely to have orgasm in close relationships
- emotional closeness more important than achieving orgasm (for women)
- 2/3 have faked orgasm not to upset partner
- arousal levels while viewing erotic stimuli do not differ in women with or without orgasmic disorder
Premature ejaculation disorder
“ejaculation that occurs too quickly”
- tendency to ejaculate during partnered sexual activity within 1 minute of penile insertion on at least 75% of sexual occasions
> median time to ejaculation is 5 minutes after penis instertion
Delayed ejaculation disorder
“persistent difficulty in ejaculating”
- marked delay, infrequency or absence or orgasm on at least 75% or partenered sexual occasions
> least common sexual dysfunction among men
> mostly reported happening during intercourse but not masturbation
Sexual Pain Disorder
- Genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder
- persistent or recurrent pain during intercourse
- often experience vaginismus (involuntary muscle spasms of the outer third of the vagina - makes intercourse impossible)
- to diagnose, make sure that not due to infection or lack of vaginal lubrification
- normal experience of arousal and can reach orgasm by oral or manual stimulation
! 50% of female participants experience pain during intercourse
! 50% of women experiencing pain do not regard it as a problem
what are the criteria for GPP/PD?
persistent or recurrent difficulties with at least one of the following:
- inability to have vaginal penetration during intercourse
- marked vulvar, vaginal or pelvic pain during vaginal penetration or intercourse attempts
- marked fear or anxiety about pain or penetration
- marked tensing of the pelvic floor muscles during attempted vaignal penetration
Etiology of sexual dysfunctions
- Biological influences
(smoking, drinking, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurological disease, hormone dysfunction, SSRI medication, other medical illnesses or medications) - Social influences
(rape or sexual abuse, no education on sexuality, relationship difficulties, negative cultural attitudes towards sexuality) - psychological influences
(depression and anxiety, low physiological arousal/exhaustion; negative cognitions about sex, appearance, sexual performance; guilt and self blame)
!! often correlated
Biological Influences
- first step is to rule out medical disease as the cause
- diabetes, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, heavy alcohol use before sex, chronic alcohol use, heavy cigarette smoking, …
- in men: low levels of testosterone or high levels of steroids and testosterone supplements
- SSRIs and antidepressants can lead to interest and orgasmic disorders
What are some biological explanations to specific sexual disorders?
- erectile disorder: vascular disorder (not enough blood to penis)
- premature ejaculation disorder: SSRIs (abnormal serotonin receptors)
- GPP/PD: neurologically based supersensitivity to pain
- low interest/arousal disorder: low estradiol or testosterone levels
Psychosocial influences
- rape, sexual abuse or absence of positive sexual experiences
- childhood sexual abuse: diminished arousal and desire, higher rates of genital pain, double rate or premature ejaculation
- relationship problems (specifically concerns about partner’s affection - F)
- poor communication around sex with partner (especially F)
- negative cognitions (…)
what are the physiological influences?
- depression (3 times more likely to report SD) and anxiety (2 times)
> depression and anxiety comorbid with sexual pain, lack of sexual desire or arousal, female orgasmic disorder - low general physiological arousal
> when exhausted-> lower arousal
Negative cognitions
-worries about pregnancy, sexual performance, AIDS, …
- negative attitudes towards sex
- worries about weight and appearance (F)
- self-blame for poor performance
- negative views on sexuality learnt through social and cultural surrounding (religion, communities, …)
the role of self-blame
(+ study)
- variability in sexual performance is common depending on context, stressors, concerns…
- people who blame themselves for decreased sexual performance are more likely to develop sexual problems
- (study) men watched arousing movie and were tested with penile plethysmograph
> then were told that erection was smaller then average
> two conditions (one internal explanation, the other external explanation
> ones with internal explanation showed lower subjective and biological arousal when second movie
Treatments of Sexual Dysfunctions
(general characteristics)
- only a third seek professional help
- multimodal treament is necessary because the causes are many
- first, always adress biological factors if present
- as Christos suggested, the red light district
Psychoeducation
- provide information about how common sexual dysfunctions are and their sources
- this reduces anxiety, normalizes concern, eliminate blame, better communication, …
- written material and videos to help clients understand more about body and sexual techniques