when the
lights go out: women's sexuality
A
woman’s sexual path is different than a man’s.
Even with the proliferation of articles on
the Internet and in grocery store magazine racks, there is still very
little good information available about women’s’ sexuality, according to
Family Practice physician Amy Miller, MD. Dr. Miller sees patients at
Medical Associates Health Centers’ Germantown clinic.
“A woman’s sexual path is different than a
man’s. Men follow a linear model: desire, arousal, orgasm. We have our own
course and it does not follow their straight line,” she says.
For women, sex does not always start with
desire. That can be a problem. Often, women do not even want to try to
have sex if desire is absent. Dr. Miller says that lack of desire can be
“worked around.” She explains that a woman’s path to sexual satisfaction
follows a circular model. It does not have to start with sex drive. A
woman can still get aroused and achieve orgasm. When the man is willing to
help and the woman is willing to try, desire is likely to build along the
way as arousal occurs, and both partners can achieve satisfaction.
Communication, setting aside time, patience and mutual caring are
important to get a woman’s sexual engine started. But there are other
things to do that may help when the lights go out.
Viagra for women?
Dr. Miller reports that trials of erectile
dysfunction medications have no proven benefits for women. Testosterone
therapy is tricky and is not FDA approved for widespread use. It is
sometimes prescribed under careful medical care due to risks related to
heart disease and diabetes. But there is good news for women.
“I was happily surprised to find that
there are some over-the-counter feminine arousal products that do work for
many women,” she says. “Patients tell me that ZestraR
really works. Another retail product that is
getting favorable reviews is ArginMax.”
ZestraR
is a hormone-free
combination of botanical oils and extracts that is topically applied to
external female genitalia to increase sensation, arousal, pleasure and
satisfaction.
ArginMaxTM
for Women is a combination of L-Arginine, ginseng, ginkgo, and 14
essential vitamins and minerals, which work together to improve sexual
desire and enjoyment. More information is
available at
www.zestraforwomen.com and
www.arginmax.com.
“Even then, there are a lot of ducks that
need be in a row for everything to work perfectly,” says Dr. Miller.
“People need to realize that not everything is going to be just right, but
that does not mean their sex life is not normal. Normal is pretty
different for everybody - especially at different stages of life and
health.”
Medication, Menopause and Other
Challenges
Female sexual dysfunction relates to desire,
arousal and orgasm. Most dysfunctions come from psychosocial factors, not
physiological problems. The biggest barriers to sexual health are
emotional issues. Whether work-, family- or health-related, these issues
need to be dealt with before addressing sexual life. Open communication is
essential and counseling may be necessary.
Sometimes, difficulties in the bedroom are
related to medical matters. Anatomically, there is a lot going on when it
comes to sex. Healthy blood flow and a healthy nervous system support
sexual health. Conversely, chronic medical problems can negatively affect
sexual health. High blood pressure can diminish blood flow to the
genitals, a key component of arousal. Diabetes adversely affects the
circulatory and nervous systems.
Medications can play a huge role in sexual
dysfunction. Antidepressant medications can diminish the body’s ability to
become aroused. Birth control pills change hormone levels, which can have
an impact on sexual response. Medications and treatments for other
conditions may have similar unwanted effects.
“Often there is more than one medication
that can be used to treat a particular condition. If a medication has
unwelcome sexual side effects, the physician may be able to prescribe
something different. Doctors know that some patients are uncomfortable
discussing sexual problems. I generally ask if there are any problems or
side effects with a medication I’ve prescribed; that opens the door. But
patients need to bring up their concerns even if not specifically asked.
Be upfront. Usually, there are options,” Dr. Miller says.
Menopause and its changes in hormone levels
can definitely affect sexual function. A good strong relationship is the
best aid to sexual satisfaction in menopause. Sometimes it takes more
patience to get the woman’s sexual cycle up to speed. Over-the-counter
lubricants and arousal products can help.
Intimacy is important
“Intimacy is not a topic patients bring up
unless I ask,” admits Dr. Miller. “So I ask as part of an annual exam –
the same way I ask about diet and exercise. I want women to know that if
sexual things change, it’s normal and we can talk about it. There are
things we can do.”
A healthy sex life is an important part of
overall good health and healthy relationships. Just for fun, Dr. Miller
recommends Laura Corn’s book 101 Nights of Great Sex from
Park Avenue Publishing.
If you have questions related to women’s
sexuality, call Dr. Miller at 262-253-5060. |
