Female Sexual Arousal Disorder and The Modern Woman

FSAD and the modern woman
For years women who struggled to attain sexual enjoyment and arousal were called frigid. What an awful word. And while countless hours and manpower (stressing "man" power) have gone into treating male sexual dysfunction, women suffered alone, often feeling like failures to their sex. Today, more women and researchers than ever before are talking about Female Sexual Arousal Disorder or FSAD, and it's leading to help and hope for the future. Of course, there are a number of disorders and conditions that can lead to difficulty in sexual arousal. FSAD is diagnosed with the following criteria:

1. Female is unable to attain adequate lubrication-swelling from sexual excitement
2. The problem causes marked distress or interpersonal difficulty
3. Symptoms are not linked to other drug use or health concerns

There are three sub-distinctions of Female Sexual Arousal Disorder, lifelong, generalized, or situational (which may occur with one partner and not another, for example). Beyond them, there are a mesmerizing number of potential causes. Often doctors and therapists will look for signs of childhood events or sexual abuse that may trigger FSAD. Stress, fatigue, gender identity, and health are also often stated as contributors. The high rates of low self-esteem and poor body image in modern women is also seriously considered, especially in cases where women have been exposed to high amounts of pornographic material.


More than most psychological factors, doctors look to physical causes when diagnosing Female Sexual Arousal Disorder. An estimated 30%-80% of cases are attributable to physical factors. Often circulatory or neurological, possible treatments are easier to research in these cases.

 In more psychological cases, women must often work through treatment with their partners, though individual approaches can be taken. Unfortunately, because female sexual dysfunction has been politically and systematically ignored for so long, much more work has been done to address these issues for men.


Luckily, today there are more potential solutions than ever before. Certain pharmaceuticals are available, although some have been criticized or even pulled from trial due to adverse effects. But pharmaceuticals are not the only available treatments, and many women choose natural gels, lubricants, and supplements to make sex highly enjoyable and comfortable. Furthermore, the openness of both men and women to discuss sexual frustrations and obstacles contributes to the bright future of healthy sex. And far from calling anyone frigid, today's doctors, therapists, naturopaths, and pharmacists are happy to help support women and couples trying to work through sexual difficulty.