Sexual Problems in Women

On this page

Basics

• Summary
• Start Here

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 (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• Your Sexual Health (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists)

Living With

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

Related Issues

• Managing Female Sexual Problems Related to Cancer (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
• Vaginal Atrophy (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Viagra for Women: Why Doesn't It Exist? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Women's Sexual Health: Talking about Your Sexual Needs (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

Specifics

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

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: The efficacy of oxytocin gel in postmenopausal women with vaginal atrophy:...
• Article: Assessment of women's sexual quality of life after benign adnexal surgery...
• Article: Dyspareunia, signs of epithelial disruption, sexual abstinence, and HIV status in...
• Sexual Problems in Women -- see more articles

Reference Desk

• Female Reproductive System (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Find an Expert

• Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health Also in Spanish
• Find an Ob-Gyn (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists)

Patient Handouts

• Cancer treatment: fertility and sexual side effects in women (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Orgasmic dysfunction in women (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