Sexual Disorders

Women’s Mental and Sexual Health

At every life-stage physical, psychological, and life changes will have an impact on a woman’s wellbeing. While there are patterns, not every woman will experience the same thing, as there will always be individual differences. Yet, there are clear patterns of change and potential challenges. This article will discuss women’s mental and sexual health, including sexual disorders and treatment approaches to improve overall wellbeing.

Physical changes

Physiological changes are due to the natural maturing and aging process. Stages in a female’s reproductive life begin with “menarche,” the first menstrual period. Most agree that this is a big event, as it demarks the onset of fertility with personal and societal implications. Many women will experience pregnancy, childbirth and lactation. All women will go through the stages of menopause, which demarks the end of fertility, and often is called the “Silent Passage, “because it does not garner attention nor has celebratory rituals.

Life demands

While physiological changes take their course, women also mature through the human life span needing to attend to obtaining an education, getting a job, connecting and committing to a mate, having children, parenting, adjusting to an empty nest, accepting the loss of their parents and loved ones, and face their own mortality. For many unexpected life challenges can arise, such as financial insecurity, infertility, illness, job loss, elder care, children with school or social issues, or divorce of their marriage.

In summary: As we know, there are endless combinations of physical and life challenges and changes. Women often need to accomplish previously mastered developmental milestones by going back to an educational setting or meeting a new significant other. We have to take a holistic view of what is going on in a woman’s life to safeguard good health and psychological wellbeing. **At this place, I would like to clearly note that woman can and do make life choices that do not follow traditional norms. Research clearly shows that these women report satisfaction with life.

Hormonal fluctuations

With the onset of fertility, cyclical hormonal fluctuations can affect women’s emotional wellbeing and menstruation can be a time of physical discomfort. Despite menstruation being a natural part of female physiology, there are misconceptions that normalize painful and excessive periods. A gynaecologist can give guidelines and address treatable conditions.

According to the Cleveland Clinic (2014), some women report on symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) or Pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). PMS and PMDD symptoms can range from uncomfortable to debilitating. A gynaecologist, psychologist, and psychiatrist can address symptoms when they continue to affect a woman’s quality of life. Hormonal changes during and after pregnancy add to depression and anxiety.

Postpartum depression

Postpartum depression can be evident early after the birth of a child. It can also unfold over the course of 1 year. There are clear standards put forth on treating postpartum depression. It is important that the child-mother bond is not hurt. This way the mother can take care of the baby, and perhaps siblings, and experience joy. It will help her endure and provide for her new-born. brings joy to the mother and good mental health gives her the ability to endure the demands of a new-born. The

Menopause

Physical and hormonal changes through the stages of menopause influence a woman’s emotional and physical wellbeing. Often, a combination of gynaecological, psychological, and psychiatric care can ease emotional and physical symptoms and prevent medical complications, or sexual disorders.

Female Sexuality Issues

Sexual intimacy should never be painful or not enjoyable. However, several sexual disorders can affect the female sexuality:

Low sexual desire. This most common of female sexual dysfunctions which is a lack of sexual interest and willingness to be sexual.

Sexual arousal disorder. Your desire for sex might be intact, but you have difficulty with arousal or are unable to become aroused or maintain arousal during sexual activity.

Orgasmic disorder. You have persistent or recurrent difficulty in achieving orgasm after sufficient sexual arousal and ongoing stimulation.

Sexual pain disorder. You have pain with sexual stimulation or vaginal contact.

Treatment for sexual disorders and problems

When there are problems with sexual intimacy there are professionals in Dubai that can form a treatment team to identify causes and treat symptoms:

1. Gynaecologist
2. Physiotherapist with specialization in women’s health/the pelvic floor
3. Psychologist
4. Psychiatrist

If sexual problems are of a physical nature, a gynaecologist can identify and address the medical problem. At times, a physiotherapist, specialized in the pelvic floor, will help with specialized exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor, or reduce muscle tension that can make sexual intimacy impossible or painful. When organic causes are ruled out, or addressed, a psychologist can add to the treatment by looking at deeper emotional issues, potential relationship problems, and provide education on sexual behavioral health. A psychiatrist will become a part of the treatment team, when depression and anxiety are a contributing factor to sexual difficulties.

Mental and physical wellbeing

In modern times, with more openness and research, significant progress in women’s health and mental health care have been made. There are available treatment options when wellbeing, happiness and functioning are impaired.

Wellbeing is a state of physical and emotional comfort. As women go through life, there are ongoing adjustments in physiology, psychological resilience, and life. A complex interplay between biology, the environment, and genetics affects emotional and physical wellbeing. A life challenge, for instance, can trigger a depression, which might affect the immune system, which can increase the risk of illness. Hormonal changes alone can trigger depression and anxiety. When sexual disorders, or problems with sexual intimacy arise, they can be a result of biology (hormonal changes/physical changes), psychology (e.g. anxiety or depression), relationship problems (arguing), and life demands.

Sources

International variability of ages at menarche and menopause: patterns and main determinants Human Biology (journal) 73 April 2001

Marjoribanks J, Farquhar C, Roberts H, Lethaby A, Lee J (January 2017). “Long-term hormone therapy for perimenopausal and postmenopausal women”. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

Post Partum Depression: Diagnosis and Treatment. Mayoclinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/postpartum-depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20376617.

Sexual Disorders: Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/female-sexual-dysfunction/symptoms-causes/syc-20372549