Medical expert of the article
New publications
Causes of Sexual Disorders
Last reviewed: 19.10.2021
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
A number of organic and psychological factors can cause disorders of the cycle of sexual reactions and cause problems such as the loss of sexual desire or the capacity for sexual arousal, the difficulty of orgasm, pain during intercourse and aversion to sex.
Although it is not known exactly how many people during this life suffer from these and other sexual functional disorders, scientific evidence indicates that their percentage is very high. According to interviews of 100 happy married couples published in the New English Medical Journal for 1978, 40% of men reported that they have ejaculation earlier than they would like or they have difficulties in the appearance and maintenance of an erection. 3% of women reported difficulties with excitement or orgasm. Half of the men surveyed and 77% of women reported that they sometimes or do not feel like having sex, or their own sexual activity is not entirely satisfactory.
Organic and psychological factors are equally responsible for sexual dysfunction. In some cases, a combination of both of these factors leads to it.
- Organic causes
Each disease that is related to the nervous system, hormonal state or blood circulation, can cause a breakdown in sexual function. This is especially true for multiple sclerosis, arteriosclerosis (arterial densification), arterial thrombosis or penile veins, diabetes, liver diseases, hyperprolactinemia (excessive prolamine hormone secretion), depression and dementia. This includes also damage to the lumbar spine and spinal cord, herniated discs and prostate surgery, which can damage the nerves of the penis.
A large number of prescription and free-selling medicines have an impact on sexual reactions. These include anti-asthmatics, diuretics, all drugs against hypertension. Medications recommended for the treatment of mental disorders, including antidepressants and anti-psychotics, may in some cases have a negative effect on sexual reactions. Impotence and difficulty orgasm sometimes manifest side effects of certain antidepressants. A detailed description of the side effects of psychoactive drugs can be found in Chapter 5.
To damage to sexual functions can lead to the use of hormones - estrogens and steroids, legal and illegal stimulants (even caffeine, nicotine and alcohol).
[