Overcoming Female Sexual Dysfunction: Working Together
Her partner is integral to a woman’s sexual health and response. Even in situations where a physiological or hormonal explanation exists for the woman's loss of libido, receiving full emotional, physical and sexual support from her partner is vital.
Relationship issues that can affect women's sexual health and result in loss of libido include:
Regaining Your Libido and Achieving Arousal
The first step in solving your sexual issues is to identify the cause of the problem. If you have identified one of the above relationship issues as the root of your problem, you and your partner might consider couple’s therapy or simply communicating openly with one another about your needs.
Of course, different relationship issues require different responses. If you're experiencing a lack of romance or communication, a dull sex life or a feeling of emotional distance, try following the suggestions below to regain intimacy with your partner.
If you think you're experiencing sexual, emotional or physical abuse, talk to your doctor. The lasting effects of abuse run much greater than a loss of libido and a lack of female arousal. If you and your partner have issues of control or dominance, or you're experiencing constant arguments or strained relations, consider seeing a couple’s counselor, who can help you work on your relationship issues as well as your sex life.
Exploring Sex in Your Relationship
To have a healthy sexual relationship with her partner, a woman needs to know what pleases her, what excites her, what makes her feel pleasure. Women's sexual health experts recommend that a woman explore her sexuality on her own as well as with her partner. For a woman suffering from loss of libido, therapeutic intervention can be coupled with sexual exploration.
Many sexual problems can be solved through honesty and creativity with your partner. Once you’ve breached the topic of your sexual issues, actually solving the problem with your partner can be fun! Thinking up creative ways to inject romance and excitement into your sex life can benefit you sexually as well as help you regain any emotional intimacy that has been lost over time.
Explore sexuality with your partner by:
- communicating about sexual needs and desires
- choosing new locations for sex
- experimenting with different positions
- experimenting with female stimulation
- using a vibrator or other sexual aid
- using erotica, including videos and books
- sharing your fantasies with one another.
Some of these suggestions, such as the use of a vibrator or erotica, may seem daunting to certain women. However, if you're shy about your sexuality, other more accessible techniques allow you and your partner to relax and become more intimate with one another. They include:
- going on a date or spending a day together to reconnect emotionally
- listening to relaxing music that you both enjoy
- massage
- sharing non-erotic fantasies and dreams.
A woman’s sexual health is often intrinsically linked to her relationship with her partner. Working with your partner to regain a healthy sex life may be difficult at first, but the rewards can be great for both of you!
Resources
Berman, L., and Berman, J. Female sexual dysfunction: Definitions, causes & potential treatments. Retrieved December 3, 2008, from the Vibrance Network Web site: Sept. 16, 2001. http://www.hisandherhealth.com/articles/
Female_Sexual_Dysfunction_Definitions_Causes_Potential_Treatments.shtml.
Laumann E, Paik A, and Rosen R. Sexual Dysfunction in the United States (1999). Prevalence and Predictors. Journal of the American Medical Association, 281: 537-544.
Phillips, Nancy, MD (2000). Female sexual dysfunction: evaluation and treatment. Retrieved December 3, 2008, from the American Academy of Family Physicians Web site: http://www.aafp.org/afp/20000701/127.html.
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