Sexual Problems in Women

On this page

Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Treatments and Therapies

Learn More

• Living With
• Related Issues
• Specifics

See, Play and Learn

• Videos and Tutorials

Research

• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Reference Desk
• Find an Expert

For You

• Patient Handouts

Summary

There are many problems that can keep a woman from enjoying sex. They include

• Lack of sexual desire
• Inability to become aroused
• Lack of orgasm, or sexual climax
• Painful intercourse

These problems may have physical or psychological causes. Physical causes may include conditions like diabetes, heart disease, nerve disorders, or hormone problems. Some drugs can also affect desire and function. Psychological causes may include work-related stress and anxiety. They may also include depression or concerns about marriage or relationship problems. For some women, the problem results from past sexual trauma.

Occasional problems with sexual function are common. If problems last more than a few months or cause distress for you or your partner, you should see your health care provider.

Start Here

• Female Sexual Dysfunction (Hormone Health Network) Also in Spanish
• Female Sexual Dysfunction (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• Sexual Dysfunction in Women (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
• Your Sexual Health (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) - PDF Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

• Sex Therapy (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• Therapeutic Use of Androgens in Women (Hormone Health Network) - PDF

Living With

• Self-Help Tips for Vulvar Skin Care (National Vulvodynia Association)

Related Issues

• Cancer Treatment for Women: Possible Sexual Side Effects (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• Vaginal Atrophy (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• Viagra for Women: Why Doesn't It Exist? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• Women's Sexual Health: Talking about Your Sexual Needs (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Specifics

• Anorgasmia in Women (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• Chronic Pelvic Pain in Women (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• Dyspareunia: Painful Sex for Women (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
• Female Genital Cutting (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health)
• Female Genital Mutilation (World Health Organization) Also in Spanish
• Low Sex Drive in Women (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• Orgasmic Disorder (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Painful Intercourse (Dyspareunia) (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• Pelvic Pain (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish
• When Sex Is Painful (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) - PDF

Videos and Tutorials

• Sexual Problems (American Society for Reproductive Medicine)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Dyspareunia (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Female Sexual Dysfunction (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Vaginismus (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: How does lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) affect sexual function...
• Article: How does lower urinary tract dysfunction affect sexual function in...
• Article: Practice Bulletin No. 176: Pelvic Organ Prolapse.
• Sexual Problems in Women -- see more articles
• Female circumcision -- see more articles

Reference Desk

• Female Reproductive System (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Find an Expert

• womenshealth.gov (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• Cancer treatment: fertility and sexual side effects in women (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Orgasmic dysfunction (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Vaginal dryness (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Vaginismus (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Women and sexual problems (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish