Diagnosis
Your primary care physician or gynecologist will start by reviewing your medical history and performing a general medical and pelvic exam. These exams can help identify any physical conditions that might be affecting your ability to achieve orgasm.
Your healthcare provider may ask you questions about your orgasm experiences and related issues. You might also be given a questionnaire to complete. Questions may include:
- Your recent and past sexual experiences.
- Information about your partner or partners.
- Your feelings towards your sexual experiences.
- The types of sexual activities and stimulation you engage in.
Your healthcare provider might also want to discuss these topics with your partner or meet with them separately.
Treatment
The treatment for anorgasmia depends on the underlying cause. Potential treatments include lifestyle changes, therapy, and medications. If a medical condition is contributing to anorgasmia, appropriate treatment will be recommended.
Lifestyle Changes and Therapy
Treatment typically starts with strategies to help you understand your body better, learn what works for you, and modify certain behaviors. These treatments may include:
- Education: Your healthcare provider will discuss female sexual anatomy and how different parts respond to stimulation. This can help clarify any questions or misunderstandings and set the stage for other treatments. Educational materials may also be recommended.
- Directed Masturbation: This involves instructions and at-home exercises to help you become familiar with your body and explore self-stimulation. Once you learn how to achieve orgasm on your own, you can apply this knowledge with your partner.
- Sensate Focus: This couple’s therapy includes instructions and at-home exercises. It starts with non-erotic touching and gradually includes more intimate touch and sexual stimulation. The goal is for each partner to understand each other’s needs and learn how to communicate effectively to achieve orgasms.
- Changes in Sexual Positions: Your healthcare provider may suggest trying different sexual positions that enhance clitoral stimulation during vaginal sex.
- Sexual Enhancement Devices: Tools like vibrators and air-pulsating devices that stimulate the clitoris may help you achieve orgasm. Some devices create mild suction over the clitoris to increase blood flow. Your healthcare provider may suggest using these devices alone initially and then with your partner.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Individual or couples therapy can help address your thoughts about sex, either in general or specifically with your partner. This therapy can also help you develop behaviors that promote a healthy sexual relationship, such as communicating your needs during sex and discussing sex with your partner.
Medical Treatments
Although some medications have been tested for treating anorgasmia, there is insufficient evidence to support their effectiveness. Hormone replacement therapies may offer some benefits but carry risks that require careful monitoring. These treatments include:
- Estrogen Therapy: If you are receiving treatment for menopausal symptoms, it may also enhance your sexual experience. Low-dose estrogen therapy, such as creams or suppositories for the vagina, can improve blood flow to the genitals and enhance vaginal lubrication. However, long-term use of estrogen pills is associated with risks like breast cancer and cardiovascular disease.
- Testosterone Therapy: For some postmenopausal women with lower-than-typical testosterone levels, testosterone replacement may improve arousal and orgasms. Potential side effects include acne, excess body hair, a decrease in HDL (“good” cholesterol), and risks similar to those associated with estrogen replacement therapy.
Alternative Medicine
Natural products, such as those containing L-arginine or Russian olive tree extract, are marketed to enhance women’s sex lives. These have been studied in small trials often involving multiple herbal products or combined with other drugs or lifestyle programs. There isn’t enough evidence to confirm their effectiveness.
Always consult your healthcare professional before trying natural therapies, as they can cause side effects and interact with other medications.
Preparing for Your Appointment
If you are distressed by a lack of orgasm during sexual activity, schedule an appointment with your primary care professional or gynecologist. Here’s how to prepare for your visit:
What You Can Do
Prepare a list of the following to share with your healthcare professional:
- Your symptoms, when they began, and the circumstances under which they occur.
- Your sexual history, including past relationships and experiences, and any history of sexual trauma or abuse.
- Any medical conditions you have, including mental health conditions.
- A list of all medications, vitamins, and supplements you take, including dosages.
- Questions about sexual activities or healthy sexual relationships.
What to Expect from Your Doctor
In addition to the information you provide, your healthcare professional will likely ask questions to better understand your sexual experiences, ability to reach orgasm, and thoughts about your sexual relationship. Consider the following questions:
- Are you currently sexually active?
- How many partners do you have now?
- Does your partner identify as male, female, or nonbinary?
- What types of sexual activities do you engage in?
- Do you become sexually aroused during interactions with your partner?
- How satisfied are you with your sexual relationship with your partner? Has this changed over time?
- How satisfied were you with a previous partner?
- Have you been able to have orgasms in the past?
- Is your difficulty with orgasm specific to certain activities?
- Can you achieve orgasm through masturbation?
- Do you experience pain with vaginal penetration or other sexual activities?
- Do you use protection during sex?
- Have you ever had a sexually transmitted disease?
- Are you trying to become pregnant or have concerns about pregnancy?
- Do you use birth control?
- Do you consume alcohol or recreational drugs? If so, how much?
- What messages about sex did you receive growing up?
- How satisfied are you overall with your current relationship?
Preparing answers to these questions can help your healthcare provider understand your situation better and offer appropriate treatment options.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Definition of Anorgasmia | Difficulty achieving orgasm, or having orgasms that are less frequent, intense, or delayed compared to what feels sexually satisfying. It can be a source of distress and can impact relationships. |
| Types of Orgasmic Difficulties | – Lifelong: Never having experienced an orgasm<br>- Acquired: Difficulty recently developed after previously experiencing orgasms<br>- Situational: Difficulty achieving orgasm only in certain situations, with specific kinds of stimulation, or with particular partners<br>- Generalized: Difficulty achieving orgasm in any situation |
| Personal and Psychological Factors | – Past Trauma: Sexual or emotional abuse<br>- Sexual Knowledge Gap: Lack of knowledge about sexual techniques and erogenous zones<br>- Body Image Issues: Negative feelings about one’s body<br>- Guilt or Shame: Cultural or religious beliefs causing guilt or shame about sex<br>- Stress and Mental Health: Daily stressors, depression, or anxiety |
| Relationship Factors | – Emotional Disconnect: Lack of emotional intimacy<br>- Unresolved Issues: Unresolved conflicts or unspoken resentments<br>- Communication Breakdown: Not discussing sexual needs and desires<br>- Trust Issues: Infidelity or broken trust<br>- Partner’s Sexual Problems: Partner’s issues with erection<br>- Intimate Partner Violence: History of violence or sexual coercion |
| Physical Roadblocks | – Health Conditions: Chronic illnesses like diabetes, overactive bladder, or multiple sclerosis<br>- Medical Treatments: Gynecological surgeries<br>- Medications: Blood pressure medications, antipsychotics, antihistamines, and some antidepressants (SSRIs)<br>- Lifestyle Habits: Alcohol and smoking<br>- Age-Related Changes: Menopause and hormonal shifts |
| Co-existing Sexual Issues | – Difficulty getting aroused<br>- Low libido<br>- Pain during sex<br>- Vaginal dryness<br>- Involuntary vaginal muscle contractions (vaginismus) |
| Risk Factors | – Lower levels of education and income<br>- Poor overall health<br>- Depression or other mental health conditions<br>- History of sexual abuse or trauma |
| When to Seek Help | If experiencing anorgasmia causes distress, treatments are available. Consulting a doctor or therapist can help identify underlying causes and explore solutions. |
| Additional Notes | – Female orgasmic disorder is another term for difficulties achieving orgasm<br>- Vaginal penetration alone may not be enough for orgasm; direct clitoral stimulation often helps |
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Medical Treatments | – Estrogen Therapy: Improves sexual experience; low-dose creams/suppositories improve blood flow and lubrication. Long-term use associated with breast cancer and cardiovascular disease risks. |
| – Testosterone Therapy: May improve arousal and orgasms in postmenopausal women with low testosterone. Side effects include acne, excess body hair, decreased HDL, and similar risks as estrogen therapy. | |
| Alternative Medicine | – Natural products (e.g., L-arginine, Russian olive tree extract): Marketed for enhancing sex life, studied in small trials. Insufficient evidence for effectiveness. Consult healthcare professional before use. |
| Preparing for Appointment | What You Can Do: |
| – List symptoms, onset, and circumstances. | |
| – Detail sexual history, including relationships, experiences, and any trauma/abuse. | |
| – List medical conditions, including mental health. | |
| – List all medications, vitamins, and supplements with dosages. | |
| – Prepare questions about sexual activities or healthy sexual relationships. | |
| What to Expect | Doctor’s Questions: |
| – Current sexual activity status. | |
| – Number of current partners. | |
| – Partner’s gender identity. | |
| – Types of sexual activities engaged in. | |
| – Sexual arousal during interactions with partner. | |
| – Satisfaction with sexual relationship, and changes over time. | |
| – Satisfaction with previous partners. | |
| – Past ability to achieve orgasms. | |
| – Difficulty with orgasm in certain activities. | |
| – Ability to achieve orgasm through masturbation. | |
| – Pain during vaginal penetration or other sexual activities. | |
| – Use of protection during sex. | |
| – History of sexually transmitted diseases. | |
| – Concerns about pregnancy or current attempts to conceive. | |
| – Use of birth control. | |
| – Alcohol or recreational drug use, and quantity. | |
| – Messages received about sex during upbringing. | |
| – Overall satisfaction with current relationship. |
