Better Sex - Everybody needs it to some extent

It is very hard to tell precisely what is the norm in sexuality and what is a dysfunction or a disorder. Until recently, sexuality was to a great degree suppressed by morals, religions, traditions, taboos, etc., and there were very few researches and publications on the subject. Even now sexuality is surrounded by many myths that are based on folklore, media and people’s fantasies. Some of the myths are:

1. Married couples have a lot of sex (reality: 56 times a year on average)

2. “Real men" are ready for sex most of the time with rock hard sustainable erections (reality: in a survey of men between the ages 40 and 70 years, 52% reported some degree of erectile difficulty)

3. “Real men" always cared about women’s satisfaction (reality: As long as sex was considered primarily as the means of reproduction, pleasure was left out of the equation of female sexuality, particularly in the male-dominated societies in the west. This began to change around the 1960s. The mass availability of reliable contraceptives and women’s heightened awareness of their individuality have rendered procreation a markedly lower priority and simultaneously dampened the double standard in regard to sexual fulfillment)

4. A sexual intercourse is prolonged, vigorous and consuming (reality: in the middle of 20th century 75% of men ejaculated within 2 minutes . The duration of intercourse did not become a major clinical issue until the past 2 decades or so)

5. Most of women have an orgasm during a sexual intercourse (reality: 30 to 40% of women do not have an orgasm with intercourse)

6. Although the majority of people do not believe now that a sexual intercourse should be used for reproduction purposes only, for many, the perception of what constitutes desirable sex is shaped by images in the media, in which nonverbal genital sex is often overvalued (reality: since the reality of pp. 2 - 5 there is a strong need for manual, oral or self stimulation).

Full article, description and possible treatments of sexual dysfunctions can be found at Revitalizing Psychiatry web site.

Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder

Revitalizing Psychiatry for North Jersey Mental Health: "Hypoactive sexual desire (HSD) is a very common sexual disorder. The most common cause of HSD seems to be relationship problems wherein one partner does not feel emotionally intimate or close to their mate.

Communication problems, lack of affection that is not associated with continuing into sexual intercourse, power struggles and conflicts, and a lack of time alone together are common factors. HSD may also be associated with a very restrictive upbringing concerning sex, negative attitudes toward sex, or negative or traumatic sexual experiences (such as rape, incest, or sexual abuse).

Alternate Names: Sexual aversion; Sexual apathy; Inhibited sexual desire"

Treatment of Hypoactive sexual desire is available at the Center of Revitalizing Psychiatry

Retarded Ejaculation

Revitalizing Psychiatry for New Jersey Mental Health: "Retarded Ejaculation is an inhibition of ejaculation. A male is unable to ejaculate, either during intercourse, or with manual stimulation in the presence of a partner.

Estimates of the incidence of retarded ejaculation range from 1 to 4% of men. Most men ejaculate within 2 to 4 minutes after onset of active thrusting in intercourse. Men with retarded ejaculation may be entirely unable to ejaculate in some circumstances (for example, during intercourse), or may only be able to ejaculate with great effort and after prolonged intercourse.

Alternate Names: Ejaculatory incompetence; Delayed ejaculation; Sex - delayed ejaculation"

Erectile Dysfunction

Revitalizing Psychiatry for New Jersey Mental Health: "Erectile Dysfunction Affects Approximately from 18 to 30 Million American Men.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common sexual complaint in men, which has become the focus of intense public and professional attention since the approval of Viagra and recently Levitra. In the Massachusetts Male Aging Study (MMAS), a community-based survey of men between the ages of 40 and 70 years, 52% of respondents reported some degree of erectile difficulty. Complete ED, defined as the total inability to obtain or maintain erections during
sexual stimulation, as well as the absence of nocturnal erections, occurred in 10% of respondents. Lesser degrees of mild and moderate ED occurred in 17% and 25%, respectively. In the National Health and Social Life Survey (MMAS), a nationally representative probability sample of men and women ages 18 and 59, 10.4% of men reported being unable to achieve or maintain an erection during the past year. Both studies observed a strong relationship to age. If the MMAS data are extrapolated, there are an estimated 18 to 30 million American men who are affected by ED."

Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction is available at the Center of Revitalizing Psychiatry

Premature Ejaculation is the Most Common Sexual Problem for Men

Revitalizing Psychiatry for New Jersey Mental Health: "Premature Ejaculation (PE) is the most common sexual problem for men. Almost all men ejaculate rapidly in their first-partner sexual experiences but with time are able to teach themselves how to achieve control that is gratifying and satisfactory. However, ejaculatory control is elusive for many men, and their sexual experience becomes defined by it. The figures vary by author, with the range being between 30% and 75%. Obtaining an accurate figure of incidence is complicated by the lack of agreement as to definition. Many men who have PE may develop a secondary erectile disorder such as Erectile Dysfunction (ED), which can be thought of as a primary one."

Treatment of Premature Ejaculation is available at the Center of Revitalizing Psychiatry

Sexual Orgasmic Disorder

Revitalizing Psychiatry for North Jersey Mental Health: "Orgasmic Disorder is the difficulty or inability to reach orgasm after sufficient sexual stimulation and arousal. The condition includes any difficulty or delay in reaching orgasm that causes the woman personal distress."

Sexual Arousal Disorder

Revitalizing Psychiatry for North Jersey Mental Health: "Sexual Arousal Disorder is the inability to attain or maintain adequate genital lubrication, swelling or other somatic responses, such as nipple sensitivity. The disorder can include

- Lack of vaginal lubrication
- Decreased clitoral and labial sensation (e.g. lack of tingling/ warmth, or 'asleep feelings in the
genitals')
- Decreased clitoral and labial engorgement
- Lack of vaginal lengthening, dilation and arousa"