Sexual Dysfunction in Women

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Many women these days are labeled as “sexually dysfunctional,” though in most cases they are actually sexually dissatisfied. There are many reasons why so many women are sexually dissatisfied, aside from actual medical problems, but pharmaceutical companies try to profit off it the same way they profit off of male sexual dysfunction with drugs like Viagra. 

This is an issue of concern for feminists because it impacts women by undermining women’s sexuality and making women feel like there is something wrong with them, when that may not be the case. Things such as fatigue from work, child care, and household chores, as well as troubling emotions and the effects of antidepressants may also be to blame.

Pharmaceutical companies attempted to create a pink version of the Viagra pill for sexual dysfunction in women, but it didn’t work. It didn’t do anything to increase desire, arousal, or orgasm, since it isn’t an aphrodisiac. This illustrates how little is known about female sexuality in the medical field. 

Self-consciousness is one of the main reasons that a lot of women are sexually dissatisfied. Feeling too fat, ugly, old, etc. can cause women to have a negative body image, which can make them feel too ashamed to show their body to their partner. Women compare themselves to the women they see in magazines and on TV and don’t feel like they are as sexy or desirable to a man as the actresses and models, even though they don’t represent real women. Women compare themselves to a standard of beauty that is impossible to achieve, and become self-conscious when they can’t look like the women in the media. 

Another reason why so many women are sexually dissatisfied is that women are still extremely sexually repressed. If a women talks about sex or admits to liking sexual activities, she is labeled as a slut, or fears that she will be labeled a slut. Likewise if they tell their partner what they like in bed. Because there is no communication, the man may be unable to satisfy the woman. This is a double standard, since it is seen as normal for a man to talk about sex. Because there is still a misguided belief that men are the only ones who like sex, and that there is something morally wrong with women who enjoy it as well, sex becomes mostly about the man’s pleasure, and the woman’s desires go unfulfilled. This goes back to the outdated and oppressive idea that women are inferior to men. Sex is still seen by many women as something dirty and wrong that should not be talked about.

The over-prescription of antidepressants in recent years may also play a role in sexual dissatisfaction in women. One of the side effects of these drugs is low sex drive. This shows another problem with our society; too many people are looking for a quick-fix to their problems and doctors are more than happy to over-prescribe antidepressants rather than finding the root cause of the problem.

This issue really affects women much more than other disenfranchised people, since it has to deal with female physiology and psychology. It may affect men too, to an extent, as they may become depressed and wonder what they are doing wrong if they can’t please their partner sexually. But, for the most part, this issue affects mainly women.

Our society still focuses mainly on male sexuality. The medical field lacks a basic understanding, so they try to treat female sexual “dysfunction” the same way male sexual dysfunction is treated, which obviously doesn’t work. Female sexual dysfunction is usually actually dissatisfaction, which may be caused by poor body image, lack of communication with their partner, stress, or even antidepressants. If women gained self-confidence instead of comparing themselves to the images they see in the media, learned to be more open to their partner, and gained a healthier view of sex, as well as staying away from unnecessary drugs like antidepressants, far fewer women would suffer from sexual “dysfunction.”