Body-Related Factors Associated with Female Sexual Dysfunction and Skills Promoting Sexual Health.

Body-Related Factors Associated with Female Sexual Dysfunction and Skills Promoting Sexual Health, Isabelle Chaffai, Institut Sexocorporel International Jean-Yves Desjardins and Association Inter-Hospitalo-Universitaire de Sexologie, France; Martin Blais, Universite du Quebec a Montreal; Jean-Yves Desjardins, Institut Sexocorporel International Jean-Yves Desjardins

We described modes of excitement related to two female sexual dysfunctions (desire disorder and coital orgasmic disorder) and identified skills that promote sexual health. From December 2004 to March 2005, 350 participants (168 women and 182 men) were recruited to complete a questionnaire about sexual dysfunction body-related aspects of sexuality. T-tests were used to determine whether women with sexual dysfunction differ from others on those aspects. Women who experienced sexual desire less than once a week reported lesser awareness of their genital sensitivity and sensorial markers; lower capacity for self-centeredness during sexual intercourse; less shortness of breath after sexual activity; less pleasure during the rise of arousal and lower intensity orgasms; lower sexual self-esteem and discomfort when being regarded as a sexual person; and fewer spontaneous erotic fantasies that were less often directed toward explicit genital representation. Women who experienced coital orgasmic disorder 50% of the time or more reported less frequent use of vaginal penetration through the use of fingers or non-vibrating objects when self-stimulating; greater need for concentration on their genitals to reach orgasm; lower capacity for self-centeredness; lesser awareness of their genital sensitivity and sensorial markers; and lower sexual self-esteem as well as fewer erotic fantasies. Results suggested that some skills promote sexual health and prevent sexual dysfunctions among females.