Factors Affecting Female Sexual Health - An Overview

Introduction:

Many individuals believe that good sexual health is just as vital as good bodily health. Sexual health is a vital part of your total health and well-being, encompassing considerably more than the prevention of disease or unintended pregnancy.

What Factors Influence the Sexual Health of Women?

A list of factors that affect sexual health is given below:

• Biological Factors - Age and genetic abnormalities.

• Environmental Factors - A lifestyle change.

• Psychological Factors - Inability to find a compatible companion, reduced libido, painful sex, and childhood sexual abuse.

• Genetic and Hormonal Factors - Menopause and removal of the ovary.

• Previous Sexual History - Multiple partners, presence of any STIs (sexually transmitted infections).

• Stress - Both psychological and physiological stress can affect the sexual health of a woman.

• Effect of Drugs - Recreational drugs such as marijuana and antihypertensive medications affect sexual health.

How Does Age Affect Female Sexual Health?

Age is a biological component that influences sexual ideas. Physiological changes in women occur as they become older, impacting their sex life. In most healthy women, the pleasure and desire for sex do not wane with age. As age progresses, there is reduced estrogen level, which brings about the following sexual problems:

• Reduced Libido - Libido or sex drive refers to an individual's desire for intimacy. Hormones have a significant impact on libido. There is a complete decline in sex drive, just as there is a substantial fall in estrogen.

• Vaginal Dryness - During menopause, the vaginal mucous membrane thins and loses its firmness. The vaginal dryness caused by reduced discharge makes sexual intercourse uncomfortable and difficult.

• Arousal Difficulties - The bodily signals of sexual readiness are arousal. The labia, clitoris, and upper vagina enlarge as the blood supply to the genitals rises. The lining of the vaginal canal becomes wet, which provides lubrication. Low estrogen might make arousal take longer or be more challenging to achieve due to vaginal atrophy and dryness.

• Orgasm Difficulties - Low hormone levels decrease sex drive, making the orgasm more difficult to achieve.

• Pain During Sex - When estrogen levels drop as women approach and enter menopause, the resulting dryness and vaginal atrophy can make penetration and intercourse unpleasant. The discomfort can range from dryness in the vaginal area to unbearable pain during intercourse.

How Does the Existing Medical Condition Affect Sex Life in Women?

Any condition that impacts overall health and well-being may also affect sexual health. Cardiovascular illnesses, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, hormone issues, melancholy (severe depression), or anxiety, might make it challenging to engage in sexual activity.

Diabetes:

• Diabetes is a long-term condition in which the body fails to effectively produce or absorb insulin, resulting in high blood sugar levels.

• Because diabetes weakens the immune system (the body's fight against germs), infections like thrush become more common.

• Thrush is an infection caused by the Candida fungus. It is also known as candidiasis or a yeast infection. Everyone has access to it. Diabetes patients, on the other hand, are at increased risk.

Hypertension:

• Blood flow to the vaginal area requires regular circulation as well.

• When blood arteries are unable to support blood flow as smoothly as feasible, arousal challenges emerge.

• A drop in blood flow could also be a sign of a hormonal imbalance.

• Hormones go throughout the body via the bloodstream. Libido may be reduced if the correct distribution is not achieved.

How Does Hormonal Imbalance Affect Female Sexual Health?

• Hormones are chemicals produced by glands in the endocrine system and are essential for the body's proper functioning. Through the bloodstream, these chemicals deliver messages to tissues and organs.

• When the body contains too much or too little of a specific hormone, hormonal imbalances arise. A hormonal imbalance can impact metabolism, heart rate, sleep cycles, reproductive cycles, sexual function, growth and development, mood, and body temperature.

• Women's reproductive and sexual health are governed by estrogen and progesterone. Hormone fluctuations experienced during pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause can cause sexual dysfunction.

How Does Stress Affect Female Sexual Health?

• Depression has an effect on sex because of human biology. It all starts with neurotransmitters, which are brain-based substances. Chemical messengers called neurotransmitters allow the brain to communicate with the sex organs.

• The body responds to the brain's perception of desire by increasing blood flow to the genital organs.

• An erection or vaginal lubrication can induce increased blood flow, which can cause arousal.

• In a sad person, the sex-related hormones are out of balance. As a result, sexual desire is either non-existent or insufficient. Low levels of these chemicals may also make it difficult to appreciate pleasurable feelings.

• Depression drugs can also have a negative impact on sexual health.

How Does the History of Sexual Abuse Affect Female Sexual Health?

According to recent studies, sexual violence has a harmful influence on victims' mental and physical health. The most prevalent sexual abnormalities discovered in those sufferers were afraid of sex, arousal dysfunction, and desire dysfunction. It is also found that victims are dissatisfied with their present sexual interactions and the overall quality of their connections.

What Is Dyspareunia, and How Does It Affect the Sexual Health of Females?

Dyspareunia is a condition of persistent pain before or following a sexual encounter. The cause is usually associated with a physical condition such as menopause. Changes such as vaginal thinning and burning sensation meddle with the desire phase of the sexual response cycle in women.

What Is Vaginismus, and How Is Sexual Health Influenced by It?

Vaginismus is the most common reason for non-consummated marriages. Vaginismus is a condition wherein vaginal infiltration (not necessarily penile penetration) causes the vaginal muscles to contract reflexively. Vaginismus does not interfere with arousal, but it does prevent entry.

Conclusion:

Sexual health is a broad term, from medical conditions to habits such as smoking that affect female sexual health. Sexual problems are usually resolved by treating the underlying medical condition. Other therapy options include modifying the prescription, which may be beneficial if the dysfunction is caused by a pharmaceutical. Hormone shots, pills, or lotions may be used to treat hormone deficiencies in women. Learning about sex and sexual acts and responses can help people overcome their worries about sexual function. Prior sexual trauma, anxiety, fear, remorse, and a negative body image can all be helped via therapy with a trained counselor.