Female Sexual Dysfunction Specialist in Syracuse, NY
What is Sexual Dysfunction?
There can be many factors, both physical and physiological, that can cause a woman to have sexual problems.
Female sexual dysfunction is a broad term that encompasses the various problems that keep women from having the sexual response they desire. Some of the medical causes that contribute to female sexual dysfunction include pelvic pain, hormonal changes (often brought on by menopause), neurological problems, medication interactions, and cardiovascular conditions.
There are four classifications of female sexual dysfunction. These include:
- Desire Disorders: Low Desire and avoiding of sexual contact.
- Arousal/Stimulation Disorders: The inability to have or maintain sufficient sexual arousal including lack of genital swelling and lubrication
- Orgasmic Disorders: The absence or delay in orgasm after sufficient sexual arousal and stimulation
- Pain Disorders: Pain in the genital area associated with sexual intercourse (also known as dyspareunia). Spasms of the pelvic floor muscles resulting in painful penetration is another condition (vaginismus)
Certain times of women’s lives can also cause disruptions in sexual desire or arousal including after childbirth or menopause, or during stressful times throughout life. The highly trained OBGYNs at CNY Women’s Healthcare have extensive experience diagnosing and treating female sexual dysfunction. Call (315) 446-4400 to schedule an appointment at our OBGYN office in East Syracuse today!
What Are Some of the Symptoms of Sexual Dysfunction?
If you are taking certain medicines, have a disease, or relationship problems, it can affect your sex life. Certain times of women’s lives can also cause disruptions in sexual desire or arousal including after childbirth or menopause, or during stressful times throughout life. The symptoms of female sexual dysfunction can make you feel discouraged or uncomfortable but this is not something that you have to live with.
Dyspareunia, or Painful Intercourse
If you experience pain during sex, vaginal dryness, or inflammation of your vagina, you may have a sexual dysfunction problem.
Vaginal dryness is very common during menopause due to the decrease of estrogen levels. Insufficient lubrication can also be cause by a lack of foreplay, low estrogen levels after childbirth or during breast-feeding, and due to certain medications.
What Are the Symptoms of Dyspareunia?
If you experience the following symptoms you should talk with your doctor about the different treatment options available:
- Pain during sexual penetration
- New pain from intercourse
- Deep pain during deep thrusting
- Burning or aching pain during intercourse
- Pain continuing after intercourse
Vaginal Dryness
Vaginal Dryness is a common symptom of menopause due to changes in hormone levels. The drop in estrogen levels in women going through menopause can lead to vaginal dryness and painful intercourse. While you can make changes in your sex life to help with vaginal dryness, medications or other treatments may be necessary.
What Are the Causes of Vaginal Dryness?
Although we know that a drop in estrogen levels can lead to vaginal dryness, there are still many possible sources to a woman’s lowered hormone production. Most commonly, vaginal dryness is associated with other typical symptoms of menopause, though it can also be brought on by:
- Childbirth
- Breastfeeding
- Douching
- Immune system disorders
- Side effects of medications, especially those used to treat reproductive disorders such as uterine fibroids or endometriosis
- Cancer treatments in the pelvic region
- Smoking
- Depression
- Immense amounts of stress
- Oophorectomy (surgical removal of the ovaries)
- Rigorous exercise
Atrophic Vaginitis
When the vaginal walls have thinned and are dry, it can cause your vagina to be irritated and inflamed. This can cause sexual intercourse to be a painful experience and may cause women to avoid sex. A vaginal infection can sometimes be the cause of inflammation. Be sure to see CNY Women’s Healthcare if you think you have an infection.
What Are the Cause of Vaginal Atrophy?
During a woman’s lifetime, her estrogen hormones help to keep the vagina well lubricated and supple. However, these hormone levels typically die down as a woman transitions through menopause, which typically leads to a variety of unique symptoms and conditions, including vaginal atrophy.
Aside from menopause, other common contributors to lower estrogen levels and development of vaginal atrophy include:
- Breastfeeding
- Removal of the ovaries
- Side effects of various medications
What Are the Symptoms of Vaginal Atrophy?
As previously mentioned, women suffering from vaginal atrophy are very likely to experience vaginal dryness, which can in turn result in a variety of specific symptoms such as:
- Pain during intercourse
- Shortening and/or tightening of the vaginal canal
- Pain while urinating
- Discharge from the vagina
- Spotting
- An itching or burning sensation of the genitals
- Urinary incontinence
- Increased frequency or urges to urinate
Inhibited Sexual Desire
Sexual apathy or aversion can be caused by the above physical problems or they could stem from an emotional cause such as:
- Anxiety or depression
- Concerns with self-esteem or physical appearance
- Relationship problems
- Stress
Take note of the sexual dysfunction problems you’re having and what’s going on in your life while the problem is occurring. Talk with one of our OBGYNs about treatment and lifestyle changes that can help provide relief from painful intercourse.
Birth Control
The primary purpose of birth control is to prevent unwanted pregnancy, but it can also positively and negatively affect your hormones. Hormonal birth control can often help to regulate a woman’s menstrual cycle and associated symptoms by stabilizing her hormones. While hormonal contraceptives are particularly common, they are not recommended for each and every female. Some women can experience adverse side effects from adding more hormones to their body via contraceptives.
Schedule a Consultation for Female Sexual Dysfunction Treatment in Syracuse, NY
Sexual Dysfunction can be very frustrating to deal with, but CNY Women’s Healthcare is here to help you out! Our goal is to help you find the treatment that is best for you. To schedule an appointment at our OBGYN office in Syracuse, NY, please call (315) 446-4400 or request an appointment through our secure online form!