Sexual dysfunction is a problem that affects both men and women. It interferes with their ability to experience sexual satisfaction by hampering them from going through all the four stages of excitement during sexual activity (Clayton et al., 2002). The problem may affect one or both partners. According to research, 43 percent of women and 31 percent of men are sexually dysfunctional (Kandeel, 2014). The main challenge that affects the treatment of this complication is the fear of stigmatization. Affected individuals do not easily come out and talk about the problem with health professionals. Many of them, usually feel embarrassed about their condition and find it extremely difficult to discuss. However, it is worth noting that the complication is treatable and that any affected individual can get medical assistance when they visit health facilities (Kandeel, 2014).
Sexual dysfunction is caused by a diverse array of factors. However, one of its most common causes is the use or over-use of over-the-counter drugs and hard drugs, such as cocaine. Some of these drugs have the capacity to affect hormones, blood circulation, and the nerves in the human body, leading to erectile dysfunction (Ogden, 2013).
Diagnostic Criteria
The diagnosis of sexual dysfunction can be done by analyzing the symptoms exhibited by victims of the disorder. Some of the most common symptoms associated with the condition are outlined below. One of the symptoms of this condition is delayed ejaculation in men. It occurs when a man engages in sexual activity for longer than normal without ejaculating. Although it is not a direct indicator of sexual dysfunction, this problem is a critical indicator of the possibility of suffering from sexual dysfunction. The second symptom is erectile disorder, which manifests when a man fails to erect even after being stimulated. The female orgasm disorder is also associated with sexual dysfunction. This disorder occurs when a woman reaches orgasm too soon or too late during sexual activity. It affects how a woman experiences sexual pleasure. Another indicator of sexual dysfunction is the female sexual arousal disorder, which is a condition when females lack the interest and urge to engage in any sexual activity. The disorder makes them insensitive to any sexual stimulation.
Yet another symptom of sexual dysfunction is the genito-pelvic pain disorder. Women with this disorder feel pain in their private parts during sexual intercourse. The fifth symptom that indicates the presence of sexual dysfunction is male hypoactive sexual desire disorder. With this disorder, men lack the interest and urge to engage in sexual activity with any woman. It mostly affects alcoholics and drug abusers. Another common indicator of sexual dysfunction is premature ejaculation. A man with this problem ejaculates too soon during sexual activity leaving the woman sexually unsatisfied (Balon, 2011). Due to this long list of symptoms, the diagnostic procedure for sexual dysfunction is a complex endeavor because one has to explore each of the outlined symptoms and link it with other critical symptoms, while eliminating other ailments that might exhibit similar symptoms. However, cases of acute sexual dysfunction can be diagnosed quite easily by inducing sexual arousal using drugs, such as sildenafil. If a man fails to erect even after the induction, the conclusion is that the man is sexually dysfunctional.
Prevalence of Medication-Induced Sexual Dysfunction
Medication induced sexual dysfunction has grown to affect a significant percentage of the population in the contemporary world. Statistics from health institutions and researchers conclude that the use of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants by individuals leads to about 50 percent of sexual dysfunction cases witnessed in the modern society (First & Tasman, 2007). According to the statistics, a big percentage of men tend to become sexually dysfunctional due to the use of drugs compared to women. However, the kind of sexual dysfunction that results from the use of drugs does not affect the men’s ability to become sexually aroused. The levels of arousal between men and women remain the same even in instances of drug use.
According to a recent research study, about 38 to 50 percent of men tend to be sexually dysfunctional and have a lower sex drive due to the use of drugs while only 26 to 32 percent of women suffer the same fate (Kandeel, 2014). In the study, the effects of four different depressants on both men and women were measured. The four depressants had the same effects on men and the reactions were the same for all the four drugs. However, in women, the results led to the conclusion that women who used Sertraline and Paroxetine frequently tended to show higher rates of sexual dysfunction then those who did not. Additionally, about 30-70 percent of all the patients treated with Sertraline are likely to be sexually dysfunctional, but Moclobemide and Venlafaxine antidepressants have a low probability of inducing sexual dysfunction (Kandeel, 2014).
Development and Course of Medication-Induced Sexual Dysfunction
According to Balon (2011), about 7 out of 10 cases of erectile dysfunction is the result of the narrowing of arteries. As the arteries that ferry blood to the penis become constricted, blood flows to the penis become lower than normal. The narrowing of arteries results from Atheroma, which is a collection of patches of fat that develop inside the lining of the arteries. When fat develops inside the arteries, it reduces the size of the concerned arteries. This reduction affects the pressure and the amount of blood flowing to the penis; thus, limiting its ability to become hard. The causes of Atheroma are poor diet, alcohol excess, diabetes, and inactivity among others. Consumption of high cholesterol food also increases the amount of fat in the arteries and leads to reduced blood pressure and flow to the penis.
Prognosis of Drug-Induced Sexual Dysfunction
The symptoms that show the likelihood of occurrence of sexual dysfunction include the inability of men to maintain an erection for the required duration of time during an intercourse, delayed ejaculation in men even after sexual stimulation and the inability of men to control the time of ejaculation during sexual activity. The symptoms for women include: lack of interest in sex, inability to achieve orgasm, inability to achieve adequate lubrication in the vagina before and during sexual activity and the inability of women to allow the vaginal muscles to relax enough to allow sexual intercourse (Ogden, 2013). Finally, sometimes one or both partners feel pain during the process of engaging in sexual intercourse.
Differential Diagnosis
Diagnosis of sexual dysfunction becomes necessary when a person realizes the reduction of satisfaction or that they fail to satisfy their partners during sexual activity. When a person notices alteration in their degree of satisfaction during sexual activity, it is prudent for them to seek medical assistance from health practitioners. The diagnosis of sexual dysfunction can also be done by examining the medical history of a patient. By doing this, the health personnel can evaluate the health status of individuals and the drugs that they have been using for medication. This analysis can reveal if any previously used drugs are responsible for sexual dysfunction. Another way to diagnose sexual dysfunction is by evaluating the attitude of the affected individual regarding sex. Some people may have a negative attitude towards sex. They perceive sexual activity as a duty they must perform to please their partners and to save their relationships or marriages from breaking up.
The mentality of protecting one’s relationship or marriage by engaging in sexual activity brings the perception that sex is a task rather that an activity that should be enjoyable and that should bring wholesomeness in relationships and marriages (Carruth, 2014). In addition, the evaluation of other factors, such as past sexual abuse, relationship problems, and the use and abuse of medicinal and hard drugs may give a clue about sexual dysfunction in individuals. Finally, examination of sex related hormones might also help in the diagnosis of drug induced sexual dysfunction. This examination is necessary because sexual dysfunction can result from the deficiency of hormones that keep people sexually active.
Biological Diagnosis
The age of a woman affects her sexual functionality. This assertion implies that the older a woman gets, the higher the likelihood that she is going to suffer from sexual dysfunction. Therefore, by analyzing the age of a sexually dysfunctional woman, it helps to understand the causes of sexual dysfunction. Second, hormonal imbalance in women may cause them to be sexually dysfunctional. The growth and development of women come with many biological changes in their bodies, which may in turn make a woman to be sexually dysfunctional if any developmental problem occurs. Third, the examination of estrogen levels help in determining the causes of sexual dysfunction in women. A decrease in the levels of estrogen leads to a higher probability of sexual dysfunction.
Psychological Diagnosis
In order to determine the causes of sexual dysfunction of an individual, a clinician needs to diagnose the patient psychologically as well. Such diagnoses may include an analysis of the health of the individual’s relationship or marriage. This analysis is essential because conflicts and emotional torture in relationships lead to discomposure that may drive away the sex drive in the concerned households. This aspect means that the party involved will be in a state of emotional distress that keeps any desire for sex at bay.
Depression and mental conditions are other causes of sexual dysfunction. As such, examining an individual on such grounds leads to better understanding of the person’s psychological status, which in turn helps in devising ways to contain the situation (Kamal & Hanash, 2008). Understanding the stress condition of an individual helps a clinician know the causes of sexual dysfunction in an individual. Stress causes emotional distress, which leads to a reduction in the sex drive of an individual. Finally, the fear of intimacy in some individuals may also lead to a sexual dysfunction. Such fear arises due to engaging in unprotected sex, which may lead to the contraction of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV or pregnancy in case of women.
Spiritual Diagnosis
Spiritual diagnosis of sexual dysfunction entails issues such as understanding one’s religious views towards sex. In some religions, people believe that sex is strictly for procreation while in other religious setups, others believe that sex is a gift that everyone who is married should enjoy within the boundaries of marriage. These varying viewpoints cause some people to be unprepared for sex on all occasions, except the times they want to reproduce. Differences in religious views on sex may lead to the lack of desire for sex. Another spiritual diagnosis that clinicians should conduct on individuals entails the teachings about sex before marriage because some religions teach on matters to do with sex within the boundaries of marriage only.
Believing in sex after marriage only and believing in sex after betrothal leads to a lot of confusion and different mindsets about sexual activity. This confusion can affect the sexual desire of some individuals and may lead to sexual dysfunction.
Emotional Diagnosis
Understanding the emotional state of individuals helps in understanding the mood patterns of individuals. This knowledge can be used to gauge the appropriate time for initiating sexual activity. For example, a person may not have the sexual desire after a conflict with a partner. Therefore, once the partner has such knowledge, they can avoid conflicts or arguments at particular times because they may lead to the lack of sex drive and sexual dysfunction (Meana, 2012).
Conclusion
Sexual dysfunction is an issue that has been hidden in the society for so long because those who are affected fear coming out and seeking assistance. This trend has led to the growth of sexual promiscuity and infidelity in marriages and consequently, breakups, separations, and divorce. These developments have led to unprecedented moral decay and a rise in the number of disjointed families in the modern society. It is, therefore, important to come up with a way of dealing with this problem in secrecy to save the society from the perils of this silent destroyer. Drug induced sexual dysfunction is even worse and projected to grow in terms of its prevalence because drugs have become easier to access. Nonetheless, experts advise that every person who feels sexually dysfunctional should gather enough courage and visit a health facility to get the appropriate assistance. Assumingly, such boldness may help with bonding in families and save the society from the downward trajectory.
References
Balon, R. (2011). Sexual dysfunction: Beyond the brain-body connection. Basel: Karger Medical and Scientific Publishers.
Carruth, B. (2014). Alcoholism and sexual dysfunction: Issues in clinical management. London: Routledge.
Clayton, A. H., Pradko, J. F., Croft, H. A., Montano, C. B., Leadbetter, R. A., Bolden-Watson, C., & Metz, A. (2002). Prevalence of sexual dysfunction among newer antidepressants. The Journal of clinical psychiatry, 63(4), 357-366.
First, M. B., & Tasman, A. (2007). Sexual disorders. Clinical Guide to the Diagnosis and Treatment of Mental Disorders, 382-398.
Kamal, A., & Hanash, K. A. (2008). New frontiers in men’s sexual health: Understanding erectile dysfunction and the revolutionary new treatments. Santa Barbara, CA: Greenwood Publishing Group.
Kandeel, F. R. (2014). Male sexual dysfunction: Pathophysiology and treatment. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Meana, M. (2012). Sexual dysfunction in women. Boston, MA: Hogrefe Publishing.
Ogden, G. (2013). Expanding the practice of sex therapy. New York, NY: Routledge.