Sexual disorders include problems of sexual identity, sexual performance, and sexual intend. There are three major categories of sexual disorders: sexual dysfunctions, paraphilia, and gender identity disorder.
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Sexual
dysfunctions prevent or reduce an individual's enjoyment of normal sex
and prevent or reduce the normal physiological changes brought on
normally by sexual arousal.
These dysfunctions can be classified by the phase of the sexual cycle in
which they occur. It is important to keep in mind that the diagnosis of
sexual dysfunction is made only when the disability persists.
Any of them could occur occasionally or be caused by a temporary factor
such as fatigue, sickness, alcohol, or drugs.
The
Desire Phase
There are two types of dysfunctions that can occur during the desire phase. One is hypoactive desire which is basically a disinterest in sexual activity. It results in a complete or almost complete lack of desire to have any type of sexual relation. This can often result in the participation in intercourse as a simple marital duty.
The second type
is an aversion to sex. This is different from simple hypoactive sexual
desire in that sexual activity actually repulses the person or makes
them unusually apprehensive. This is most often the result of a
traumatic sexual experience, such as molestation as a child or rape.
The
Arousal Phase
Erectile
dysfunction is the inability of males to attain or sustain erection long
enough for coitus. The inability of females to become sexually aroused
is sexual arousal disorder.
The
Orgasm Phase
When males are
unable to control ejaculation so that it occurs before satisfying sexual
relations can take place with the partner this is known as premature
ejaculation . Ejaculatory incompetence is the lack or delay of reaching
orgasm in males. The female version of this is inhibited female orgasm-
the lack or delay of reaching orgasm in females.
Sexual
Pain Disorders
There are two
sexual pain disorders. Dyspareunia is when pain occurs during
intercourse. This is predominantly a female complaint, but it does occur
in males occasionally. Vaginismus is a female disorder in which
involuntary spasmodic muscle contractions occur at the entrance to the
vagina when an attempt is made to insert the penis. If intercourse is
attempted despite these contractions, a painful sexual experience
results.
Paraphilias are
sexual behaviors in which unusual objects or scenarios are necessary to
achieve sexual excitement.
Eight
paraphilias are recognized which are grouped into 3 broad categories.
Preferences
for Nonhuman Objects
There are two
types of preferences for nonhuman objects: fetishism and transvestism.
Fetishism
A fetish exists when a person is sexually aroused by a nonliving object.
It can manifest in two ways, one more extreme than the other. One form
associates coitus with some object (most frequently women's panties or
other undergarment
). It
is relatively harmless if the action is taken playfully and is
acceptable to the person's partner. Focus on certain parts of the body
(feet, hair, ears, etc) aside from those part of the pleasurable
foreplay, can become fetishistic in its hold on the individual.
Transvestism
This paraphilia exists when the person achieves sexual excitement by
cross-dressing. This is very rarely found in females so the male side of
this paraphilia will be used as the example.
Two different
purposes seem to be associated with this act in different individuals.
In one aspect the person seeks to intensify sexual excitement in
intercourse with a partner by only partially dressing as a woman. In the
other form, the male moves about in full female regalia, which suggests
some type of gender
identity problem but not necessarily homosexuality.
Preferences
for Situations Causing Suffering
Sadism and
Masochism
The term sadist is derived from the reported violent sexual exploits of
the Marquis de Sade. "Sadist" is applied to those who derive
sexual excitement from the pain of others. The term masochist was
derived from the writing of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch whose characters
sought out women who would beat them. "Masochist" is applied
to those who derive sexual excitement through their own pain. Hence,
sadists and masochists go hand in hand, one depending on the need of the
other. The danger of these needs is that each may need successively more
brutal treatment to satisfy their sexual needs.
Preference
for Non-consenting Partners
The three types
of this category of paraphilia are exhibitionism, voyeurism, and
pedophilia. All three are considered crimes in this country and are
almost entirely male crimes.
Exhibitionism
Exhibitionism is the exposure of one's genitals in a public place. It is
the most prominent sexual offense leading to arrest and makes up one
third of all sexual crimes.
From
the psychological point of view, there are three characteristic features
of the exhibition. First, it is always performed for unknown women;
second it always takes place where sexual intercourse is impossible, for
example in a crowded shopping mall; and third it must be shocking for
the unknown woman or it seems to lose its power to produce sexual
arousal in the individual. Exhibitionists are not assaultive and are
considered more of a nuisance than an actual danger.
Voyeurism
Looking at sexually arousing pictures or situation is a relatively
common, apparently normal activity. The difference between that and
voyeurism is that in normal watching, the viewing is a prelude to normal
sexual activity. In the voyeur or "Peeping Tom" the experience
replaces normal sexual activity. Nevertheless, voyeurism may
exist in a person who also engages in normal heterosexual activity.
Pedophilia
Pedophilia is the act of deriving sexual excitement through the physical
contact of children. This paraphilia is radically different from
exhibitionism and voyeurism in its severely damaging impact on the
nonconsenting partner, a child. Ordinarily, the pedophiliac is someone
who has ready access to the child. The child or parent would have no
reason to suspect that the individual has a pedophilic orientation.
A gender identity disorder exists when a person, male or female, experiences confusion, vagueness or conflict in their feelings about their own sexual identity. There is a struggle between the individual's anatomical sex gender and subjective feelings about choosing a masculine or feminine style of life. Children can distinguish the difference between males and females by the age of two and by their fourth birthday can recognize the different roles that each sex plays in society. By the age of fifteen or so a person can relate to what arouses sexual feelings in themselves. Those with a gender identity disorder may have a problem with one or all of these aspects of identity.