Female Orgasmic Disorder (Anorgasmia)

A condition affecting females which is characterized by delayed, infrequent or absent orgasms — or significantly less-intense orgasms — after sexual arousal and adequate sexual stimulation which causes distress.

Female orgasmic disorder (also called Anorgasmia) occurs when someone has difficulty reaching orgasm when they’re sexually aroused and there’s sufficient sexual stimulation.

There are four types of orgasmic dysfunction:

  1. Primary anorgasmia (also known as lifelong anorgasmia): A condition in which you’ve never had an orgasm.
  1. Secondary anorgasmia (also known as acquired anorgasmia): Difficulty reaching orgasm, even though you’ve had one before.
  1. Situational anorgasmia: The most common type of orgasmic dysfunction. It occurs when you can only orgasm during specific situations, such as during oral sex or masturbation.
  1. General anorgasmia: An inability to achieve orgasm under any circumstances, even when you’re highly aroused and sexual stimulation is sufficient.

Symptoms

The main symptom of orgasmic dysfunction is the inability to achieve sexual climax. Other symptoms include having unsatisfying orgasms, having fewer orgasms, and taking longer than normal to reach climax.

Prevalence

Orgasmic disorders can affect both women and men. However, it is much less common in men. Studies suggest orgasmic dysfunction affects 11-41% of women.

Prognosis

With proper treatment, you may be able to reach climax. It’s important to know that you’re not alone. Many women deal with orgasmic dysfunction at some point in their lives. Many cases of secondary and situational anorgasmia resolve on their own. However, cases of primary and generalized anorgasmia typically improve with some form of treatment.

When to seek help

Treatment

Treatment for orgasmic dysfunction depends on the cause of the condition. You may need to:

  • treat any underlying medical conditions
  • switch antidepressant medications
  • have cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or sex therapy
  • increase clitoral stimulation during masturbation and sexual intercourse

In some cases, estrogen hormone therapy may be used. Estrogen can help increase sexual desire or the amount of blood flow to the genitals for heightened sensitivity. Other treatment options include couples counseling.