Sexual Arousal Disorder

This article appeared on AssociatedContent.com on June 9, 2010: 

According to Virtual Medical Centre, "Research suggests that the majority of women experience sexual dysfunction at some point in their lives, and for many it is an ongoing or recurring issue." A common type of sexual dysfunction that women experience is sexual arousal disorder. To help understand sexual arousal disorder I have interviewed Dr. Lisa Colangelo Fischer.

Tell me a little bit about yourself. 
I have a Ph.D. degree in Counseling Psychology and am in private clinical practice in Phoenix, AZ where I use contemporary psychoanalytic psychotherapy in treating adults with anxiety, depression, sexual dysfunctions, and relationship difficulties, to name a few. I am currently president of the Southwest Psychoanalytic Society.

What is sexual arousal disorder? 
Sexual arousal disorder is the physiological inability to be sexually stimulated.

What are the signs and symptoms of sexual arousal disorder? 
In order for a diagnosis of sexual arousal disorder to be made, there needs to be very little to no response physically in the genital area to any kind of sexual stimulation. This lack of response is persistent and recurrent. In women, there is very little or no vaginal swelling and lubrication. In men, there is a failure to achieve erection or to maintain erection during intercourse.

What type of impact does sexual arousal disorder have on a person's life? 
Sexual arousal disorder that is persistent and recurrent can have a tremendous negative impact on a person's life in four different ways:

1) Affectively, a person may become anxious, depressed, guilty, and/or have lowered self esteem and confidence.
2) Cognitively, a person may become preoccupied with feelings of inadequacy, think there's "something wrong with my body", "I'm not good enough", "I'm not womanly/manly enough", that he/she is the only one with this kind of problem, and/or worry excessively about sexual relationshipsand intercourse.
3) Somatically, a person may develop a sensory hypo-responsivity where there may be an increased lack of physical and sexual sensation. Body memory of previous sexual trauma (if any) can play a role here where the body can automatically shut off or tune out any physical/sexual sensations as a defense mechanism.
4) Relationally, a person may avoid or limit engaging in mature, emotional, and sexual intimacy with others. Sexual intercourse is unsatisfying, incomplete, and for some women, is painful.

What type of help is available for someone who has sexual arousal disorder? 
A medical professional (urologist, urogynecologist, gynecologist, and endocrinologist) can help with exploring any underlying physical causes that may exacerbate sexual arousal difficulties. Some contributing physical factors can be low levels of estrogen in women and testosterone in men, vaginal infection, chronic illnesses such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and damaged nerves due to genital injury. Certain prescription drugs can contribute to arousal difficulties such as some SSRIs.

A psychologist or therapist with a good understanding of both contributing and resulting psychological factors to sexual arousal disorder can help a person deal with the difficulty. There are therapists who are specifically trained in sexology to treat people with psychosexual dysfunction issues, including sexual arousal disorder.

What advice would you like to leave for someone who has sexual arousal disorder? 
You are entitled to a full, satisfying sexual life. Do not hesitate in seeking help. There are many out there dealing with the same issues as you are. As a result, professionals are better understanding and equipped to help those suffering from sexual arousal disorders.