Anorgasmia, or Coughlan's syndrome, is a type of sexual dysfunction in which a person cannot achieve orgasm, even with adequate stimulation. In males the condition is often related to delayed ejaculation. Anorgasmia can often cause sexual frustration. Anorgasmia is far more common in females than in males and is especially rare in younger men.

Causes[link]

The condition is sometimes classified as a psychiatric disorder. However, it can also be caused by medical problems such as diabetic neuropathy, multiple sclerosis, genital mutilation, complications from genital surgery, pelvic trauma (such as from a straddle injury caused by falling on the bars of a climbing frame, bicycle or gymnastics beam), hormonal imbalances, total hysterectomy, spinal cord injury, cauda equina syndrome, uterine embolisation, childbirth trauma (vaginal tearing through the use of forceps or suction or a large or unclosed episiotomy), vulvodynia and cardiovascular disease.^[1]

A common cause of situational anorgasmia, in both men and women, is the use of anti-depressants, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction (PSSD) is a name given to a reported iatrogenic sexual dysfunction caused by the previous use of SSRI antidepressants. Though reporting of anorgasmia as a side effect of SSRIs is not precise, it is estimated that 15–50% of users of such medications are affected by this condition^{[citation needed]}. The chemical amantadine has been shown to relieve SSRI-induced anorgasmia in some, but not all, people.^{[weasel words][citation needed]}

Another cause of anorgasmia is opiate addiction, particularly to heroin.^[2] Beat icon William S. Burroughs chronicled this problem (amongst many others) in his novel Naked Lunch.

About 15% of women report difficulties with orgasm, and as many as 10% of women in the United States have never climaxed.^[3][4][5] Only 29% of women always have orgasms with their partner.^[6]

Primary anorgasmia[link]

Primary anorgasmia is a condition where one has never experienced an orgasm. This is significantly more common in women, although it can occur in men who lack the gladipudendal (bulbocavernosus) reflex.^[7]

Women with this condition can sometimes achieve a relatively low level of sexual excitement. Frustration, restlessness, and pelvic pain or a heavy pelvic sensation may occur because of vascular engorgement.

On occasion, there may be no obvious reason why orgasm is unobtainable. In such cases, women report that they are unable to orgasm even if they have a caring, skilled partner, adequate time and privacy, and an absence of medical issues which would affect sexual satisfaction. It should be noted that the attention and skill of one's partner are not inextricably linked to woman's internal, implicit comfort level. Thus, anorgasmia in a woman whose partner is adequately attentive and skilled should not be regarded as a clinical mystery.

Some social theorists believe that inability to orgasm may be related to residual psychosocial perceptions that female sexual desire is somehow 'wrong,' and that this stems from the age of Victorian repression. It is thought that this view may impede some women – perhaps those raised in a more repressed environment – from being able to experience natural and healthy sexual feeling.^[8] While such proposals may have a place in academic social theory, they have not been established scientifically. Therefore, an idea such as this may be a component of treatment as one consideration among many, but responsible clinical practice should not be guided, based on, or informed by it.

Primary male anorgasmia is more common among men who have been circumcised than those who have not been. As many men age, they lose the ability to have orgasms even if they still ejaculate. The pleasure of orgasm may diminish in older men.^{[citation needed]}

Secondary anorgasmia[link]

Secondary anorgasmia is the loss of the ability to have orgasms (as opposed to primary anorgasmia which indicates a person who has never had an orgasm). The cause may be alcoholism, depression, grief, pelvic surgery (such as total hysterectomy) or injuries, certain medications, illness, estrogen deprivation associated with menopause, or rape.

Prostatectomy[link]

Secondary anorgasmia is close to 50% among males undergoing prostatectomy;^[9] 80% among radical prostatectomies.^[10] This is a serious adverse result because radical prostatectomies are usually given to younger males who are expected to live more than 10 years. At more advanced ages, the prostate is more unlikely to grow during that person's remaining lifetime.^[11] This is generally caused by damage to the primary nerves serving the penile area, which pass near the prostate gland. Removal of the prostate frequently damages or even completely removes these nerves, making sexual response unreasonably difficult.^[11]

Due to the existence of these nerves in the prostate, surgeons performing sex reassignment surgery on transsexual male to female patients avoid removing the prostate. This leaves the nerves that will then lead to the newly formed clitoris, and decreases the chances that the patient will not respond to clitoral stimulation after surgery. Additionally, by leaving the prostate in the patient, the surgeon allows it to be situated close to the wall of the newly formed vagina, which may potentially increase stimulation during vaginal intercourse after the procedure.

Situational anorgasmia[link]

People who are orgasmic in some situations may not be in others. A person may have an orgasm from one type of stimulation but not from another. Or a person may achieve orgasm with one partner but not another, or have an orgasm only under certain conditions or only with a certain type or amount of foreplay. These common variations are within the range of normal sexual expression and should not be considered problematic.

A person who is troubled by experiencing situational anorgasmia should be encouraged to explore alone and with his or her partner those factors that may affect whether or not he or she is orgasmic, such as fatigue, emotional concerns, feeling pressured to have sex when he or she is not interested, or a partner's sexual dysfunction. In the relatively common case of female situational anorgasmia during penile-vaginal intercourse, some sex therapists recommend that couples incorporate manual or vibrator stimulation during intercourse, or using the female-above position as it may allow for greater stimulation of the clitoris by the penis or pubic symphysis or both, and it allows the woman better control of movement.

Random anorgasmia[link]

Some people are orgasmic but not in enough instances to satisfy their sense of what is appropriate or desirable. Therapy can help such people examine and realign their expectations of orgasm and of sexual activity. For some people, therapy can help people become more comfortable with momentarily giving up control to bodily responses.

Diagnosis[link]

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Effective treatment for anorgasmia depends on the cause. In the case of women suffering from psychological sexual trauma or inhibition, psychosexual counselling might be advisable and could be obtained through GP referral.

Women suffering from anorgasmia with no obvious psychological cause would need to be examined by their GP to check for absence of disease. Blood tests would also need to be done (full blood count, liver function, oestradiol/estradiol, total testosterone, SHBG, FSH/LH, prolactin, thyroid function, lipids and fasting blood sugar) to check for other conditions such as diabetes, lack of ovulation, low thyroid function or hormone imbalances.^[1] The normal thresholds for these tests and timing in a woman's menstrual cycle is detailed in Berman et al., 2005.

They would then need to be referred to a specialist in sexual medicine. The specialist would check the patients blood results for hormonal levels, thyroid function and diabetes, evaluate genital blood flow and genital sensation, as well as giving a neurological work-up to determine the degree (if any) of nerve damage.

Treatment[link]

Just as with erectile dysfunction in men, lack of sexual function in women may be treated with hormonal patches or tablets to correct hormonal imbalances, clitoral vacuum pump devices and medication to improve blood flow, sexual sensation and arousal.^[1]

Over the years Hitachi Magic Wand has become a fixture in orgasm courses. In 2008 Danish research showed that more than 93% of a group of 465 chronic anorgasmic women could reach orgasm using Hitachi Magic Wand and the Betty Dodson Method.

In the case of nerve damage, research is currently being undertaken at Johns Hopkins University to make damaged nerves in the human body regrow using the enzyme sialidase.^[12] It is possible that in the future pelvic nerve damage could be repaired in this way.

The NIH states that yohimbine hydrochloride has been shown in human studies to be possibly effective in the treatment of male impotence resulting from erectile dysfunction or SSRI usage (i.e. Anorgasmia).^[13] Published reports have shown it to be effective in the treatment of orgasmic dysfunction in men.^[14]

See also[link]

• Sexual dysfunction

References[link]

• The original text for this article is taken from public domain CDC text.
• Berman, J. Bumiller, E. and Berman L. (2005) For Women Only, Revised Edition: A Revolutionary Guide to Reclaiming Your Sex Life, Owl Books, NY

External links[link]

• University of California, Santa Barbara's SexInfo includes statistics, causes, and treatments for anorgasmia
• Definition of Anorgasmia, Mayo Clinic]
• Push My Button, (2001) The New Scientist, Issue: 2271