Sexual Dysfunction

Sexual dysfunctions are the category of mental illness that describe difficulties with sexual desire, arousal, orgasm, and pain, and they can be biological and/or psychological in origin. Sexuality is an integral part of well-being; therefore, sexual dysfunction can affect self-esteem, intimate relationships, and quality of life. People of all genders and sexual orientations may experience sexual dysfunction. Much like other mental illnesses, each sexual dysfunction comprises a set of symptoms that people experience on a spectrum of severity. This entry reviews theories of the human sexual response system, diagnoses of sexual dysfunctions, and treatments for these disorders. Given the strong tie between biology and gender for many people (i.e., many people with male genitals identify as male, and many people with female genitals identify as ...