Dr. Geetha Sri

Men often complain of impotence. Is there a female equivalent – something like female impotence? The answer is yes, in the sense that women do have their share of sexual problems. They are broadly termed as Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD). The word 'female impotence' is a misnomer. The common FSDs faced by women can be about desire (absent, diminished or excessive desire), inability to get excitement (physiological changes) despite having desire, inability to reach climax (orgasm), painful sex including vaginismus or a combination of these. Some of these problems can be present right from the start, while in some women, they start after having a satisfactory sexual life for a while. Female sexual dysfunction can occur at any stage due to various reasons. Sometimes such problems may strain the relationship. 

1. Inhibited desire disorder: A very common FSD is having low or no desire to have sex. Different causes that lead to such a situation are tiredness, stress, anxiety, depression, illness, hormone imbalances, painful sex, unrewarding sexual activity, relationship disharmony, sexual trauma, and drug or alcohol abuse. Medication, pregnancy, child birth and breastfeeding can also be other causes for this. Apart from these reasons, there are certain days in the monthly cycle of women when they experience a low in the sexual desire. It may not seem serious in the beginning but gradually with time, things will change and frustration and unhappiness creep in a lovely relationship. 
2. Pain during intercourse: Dyspareunia or pain during intercourse also may lead to sexual dysfunction women. It can be a superficial or deep pain. Pain may also occur during thrusting or even several minutes after intercourse. Each type of pain has different causes. For example, you will have superficial pain/irritation when there are issues like yeast infection, genital herpes, muscle spasms, or just plain lack of lubrication and other such problems; A deep-seated pain can be due to endometriosis, uterine fibroids, or ovarian cysts; Pain or burning sensation during thrusting could be due to lack of lubrication, or infection of the neck of the uterus (cervix), for example. Mainly lack of lubrication and yeast infection are important causes for painful intercourse. Pain can be sometimes dreadful and discourages women from intercourse and may even cause long-term low sex desire. 
3. Inability to reach orgasm: It is a common belief that women have an orgasm only through penile-vaginal intercourse. The truth is, it's not. Only 25% of women are found to get orgasm in this way and others need clitoral stimulation for having orgasm. Thus, most women do not reach the climax through peno-vaginal sex without direct or indirect stimulation to the clitoris! Women who love their partner might live with this unsatisfying sex for some time, but gradually they run the risk of losing interest in sex. Some women eventually refuse sexual relations, for they are better off without sex than sex without orgasms and gross sexual dissatisfaction.

If you think you are facing any of the above problems, it may be a FSD and calls for steps to overcome the problem and to preserve the pleasure, intimacy, satisfaction, harmony and the overall well-being of your relationship. However, do not feel threatened as you are not alone, and getting to the sex counselor/therapist will help you out of such problems.