Difficulty with Orgasm / Female Orgasmic Disorder (FOD)

A persistent delay or an absence of orgasm / sexual climax plagues the woman in this case. Almost 24% of women suffer from some form of difficulty with orgasm; however not many would seek treatment for it.

Women suffering from female orgasmic disorder do get aroused and experience sufficient lubrication; however, they face difficulty in reaching climax and may not get an orgasm at all. This can get very frustrating for the patient and may lead to problems in the relationship. It is well worth mentioning here that in contrast to men, women can have multiple orgasms in a short period and these may vary in intensity and duration from case to case as well in the same woman from one time to another.

Female Orgasmic Disorder is classified as primary or secondary:

Primary: In this case, the woman has never had an orgasm - neither by self-stimulation (masturbation), nor by direct stimulation of the clitoris, nor through vaginal intercourse.

Secondary: Here the woman has had orgasms in the past but has lost the ability due to any of the causes mentioned below.

Some of the causes of female orgasmic disorder:

Physical causes include a cultural practice involving removal of the clitoris (female genital mutilation); general medical conditions like coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus; damage to blood vessels, nerves in the pelvic region, etc.

Common psychological causes of difficulty in getting an orgasm are past sexual abuse, guilt about sex, relationship problems, major depression, stress, anxiety, fear of pregnancy, etc.

Medications like antipsychotics, narcotics, antidepressants, etc.