However, by the 1990s, human sexuality was emerging as a complex bio-psychosocial phenomenon.
United States of America (Press Release) October 14, 2007 --
Contemporary studies view the great majority of sexual dysfunction cases as having somatic or organic rather than psychological etiologies, or at least as being "comorbid" in origin. This is particularly true in male disorders, where up to 80 percent of ED is the result of physical conditions which interfere with nerves and blood vessels. Most commonly, vascular disease is blamed for decreased blood flow to the penis. Once a physical condition affects the ability to maintain penile erection, psychological distress and performance anxiety sets in, complicating the problem. This leads to avoidance of sexual activity and the male may become socially withdrawn or depressed.
It is generally believed that for women, more so than for men, sexual drives and satisfactions are more complex and organized around the entire sexual relationship or sexual partner. Moreover, collateral factors such as birth control, abortion, fear of sexually-transmitted diseases, and feminism have greatly affected womens' general approach to sexual activity and sexual behavior. Key psychological causes associated with sexual dysfunction range from past sexual abuse, to unsatisfactory emotional relationships with sexual partners, to poor self-assessment regarding body image or appearance. Another factor to be considered is that half of all women over the age of 60 are without a partner (even though they have forestalled menopause with hormone replacement therapy), and the "use it or lose it" thinking about sexual activity has proven to have some medical basis. (Research suggests that long periods of sexual inactivity may result in loss of elasticity to the vagina in females, and muscle atrophy in the penis of males.) All of these factors may put pressure on both sexes to "perform" or engage in sexual activity more often, even if sexual intercourse results in physical pain. Thus, "remedicalization" of dysfunction from the psychological to the medical arena may not always address the coexisting psychosocial aspects of the condition. Adjunct psychological therapy may be warranted.
An estimated 10 to 20 million American men have some degree of erectile dysfunction. Sexual dysfunction is often associated with disorders such as diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, neurological disorders, and depression. In some patients, sexual dysfunction may be the presenting symptom of such disorders. Additionally, ED is often an adverse effect of many medications.
Sexual dysfunction may have physiological or psychological causes or a combination of both. Between 10-52% of men at some point in their lives will experience some type of sexual dysfunction. One recent study in the Journal of American Medical Association (1999) found sexual dysfunction common in 31% of men age 18 to 59.
It is generally believed that for women, more so than for men, sexual drives and satisfactions are more complex and organized around the entire sexual relationship or sexual partner. Moreover, collateral factors such as birth control, abortion, fear of sexually-transmitted diseases, and feminism have greatly affected womens' general approach to sexual activity and sexual behavior. Key psychological causes associated with sexual dysfunction range from past sexual abuse, to unsatisfactory emotional relationships with sexual partners, to poor self-assessment regarding body image or appearance. Another factor to be considered is that half of all women over the age of 60 are without a partner (even though they have forestalled menopause with hormone replacement therapy), and the "use it or lose it" thinking about sexual activity has proven to have some medical basis. (Research suggests that long periods of sexual inactivity may result in loss of elasticity to the vagina in females, and muscle atrophy in the penis of males.) All of these factors may put pressure on both sexes to "perform" or engage in sexual activity more often, even if sexual intercourse results in physical pain. Thus, "remedicalization" of dysfunction from the psychological to the medical arena may not always address the coexisting psychosocial aspects of the condition. Adjunct psychological therapy may be warranted.
An estimated 10 to 20 million American men have some degree of erectile dysfunction. Sexual dysfunction is often associated with disorders such as diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, neurological disorders, and depression. In some patients, sexual dysfunction may be the presenting symptom of such disorders. Additionally, ED is often an adverse effect of many medications.
Sexual dysfunction may have physiological or psychological causes or a combination of both. Between 10-52% of men at some point in their lives will experience some type of sexual dysfunction. One recent study in the Journal of American Medical Association (1999) found sexual dysfunction common in 31% of men age 18 to 59.
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