Sexual problems

Sexual problems

Sexual problems are problems that to a greater or lesser extent affect your ability to have a normal sex life. Stress, medication, illness and operations are some of the factors that can lead to various sexual problems.

Lack of desire

Lack of sexual desire (reduced libido) can affect both women and men. Desire may decrease or disappear completely. Not everyone feels sexual desire as a great driving force, and a lack of desire can be discovered or pointed out by a partner. Most people who seek help for a lack of desire are in established relationships.

Factors that can reduce sex drive

• Stress

• Lack of sleep

• Certain medications

• Depression and disheartenment

• Problems in cohabitation

• Other sexual problems

Stress is a common cause of lack of desire. Some medicines can cause reduced sex drive as a side effect, among other things this applies to hormonal contraceptives such as birth control pills, birth control syringes, birth control rings and minipills and certain antidepressants.

What can improve sex drive?

Being physically close to your partner without having sex can increase your desire for sex. If you manage to de-stress and get enough sleep, this can also help. It can be just as important to just have good sex, that is, find out what works best for you and steer clear of anything that you are not comfortable with. Sex aids can be of use.

Pain during intercourse

In women, a common cause of pain during intercourse is that the vagina is not wet enough. This can lead to irritated mucous membranes, with sores and cracks that cause pain during intercourse. Problems with a dry vagina are particularly common after pregnancy, during breastfeeding and during menopause.

If you experience pain during intercourse, it is important that intercourse is interrupted, as carrying it out can lead to more damage.

Causes of pain during intercourse

There can be many different reasons why you experience pain during intercourse.

Dry mucous membranes in the vagina

• Vestibulitis or burning vulva is a condition where women experience pain when touching or penetrating the vagina.

• Vaginismus or vaginal spasm is when the muscles in the vagina tighten involuntarily. This can cause the muscles in the vagina to contract if the vagina is touched.

• Too tight foreskin, or phimosis, can cause pain during intercourse for the man.

• Psychological reasons such as stress or negative experiences during sex can make you tense up during intercourse, which in turn can lead to pain.

What can be done if you experience pain during intercourse?

Women who have problems with dry mucous membranes can use a lubricant that can reduce the discomfort. In case of vestibulitis, vaginismus or tight foreskin, you should seek help from a doctor.

Erection problems/impotence

Impotence, or erectile dysfunction, is the inability to obtain or maintain erection of the penis. For many men, impotence leads to poor self-esteem and problems in partner relationships. The incidence of impotence increases with age.

Various causes of impotence

• Mental and emotional conditions such as stress, depression, performance anxiety or problems in the relationship.

• Diseases that affect the blood vessels, the nervous system and the hormonal balance can cause potency problems.

• Certain medicines can cause potency problems, for example blood pressure-lowering medicines, as well as certain medicines for depression and epilepsy.

• High alcohol consumption, smoking and little exercise can affect the ability to get an erection.

Premature ejaculation

Premature ejaculation is when you ejaculate before both parties want it. It is therefore a very individual condition, and many may find that they have premature ejaculation if they cannot satisfy their partner.

Various causes of premature ejaculation

Premature ejaculation is very common, as many as 20-30% of men may have this problem. Erectile problems can cause the man to become anxious about not being able to maintain an erection, and enter a pattern where he rushes to achieve ejaculation.

• Psychological causes such as anxiety and stress can cause premature ejaculation.

• Physical causes of premature ejaculation can be hormonal disorders, inflammation of the urethra or prostate and abnormal reflexes in the nerves that control ejaculation.

Can premature ejaculation be treated?

If you experience premature ejaculation occasionally, there is no reason to be concerned. This is completely normal and something many people experience. If, on the other hand, you very often or always have premature ejaculation, you can contact a doctor and get help. Both sex therapy, where you learn techniques that can improve the problem, and various medications can be tried against premature ejaculation.

Orgasm problems

Both women and men can experience problems achieving orgasm. The problem is believed to be most prevalent in women. It is very variable how much, how little or what type of stimulation is needed to achieve orgasm in different people. Orgasm problems include difficulty achieving orgasm, delayed orgasm, or unsatisfactory orgasm.

Alcohol is one of the known causes that can lead to orgasm problems. So can certain medications, such as some antidepressants. In addition, there are a wide range of psychological reasons that can contribute to orgasm problems, examples of which can be stress, anxiety, negative thoughts and previous bad experiences.

Various sex aids can be tried for orgasm problems.

Illness and drug use

Some diseases and medicines can cause various sexual problems. Diabetes can cause problems with erection and orgasm problems. It is mainly diabetics with poorly controlled blood sugar who can be affected by this. High blood pressure and certain medicines for high blood pressure can lead to impotence and erectile dysfunction. Multiple sclerosis can cause orgasm problems by damaging the nerves that go down into the pelvis. Some medicines have reduced sex drive as a side effect, among other things this applies to hormonal contraceptives such as the pill, contraceptive injection, contraceptive ring and minipills and certain antidepressants.

Stoma means having the bowel removed, such an operation can cause temporary and in some cases permanent problems with impotence.

Different forms of cancer and their treatment can lead to sexual problems. Radiation therapy, surgical interventions and the use of chemotherapy can both lead to physical and psychological difficulties for the sex life and lead to sexual problems.

Sources: RFSU, Great Norwegian Lexicon, Journal of the Norwegian Psychological Association, Journal of the Norwegian Medical Association, Norwegian Health Information Technology and Sex and Society