Orgasmic Dysfunction

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Treatment

Treatment through education about the principles cited above has been found to be helpful. In the treatment of primary anorgasmia, the initial objective is to be able to obtain an orgasm under any circumstances.

Most women require clitoral stimulation to reach an orgasm. Incorporating this into sexual activity may be all that is necessary. If orgasm difficulties persist, individual teaching of self masturbation when the partner is not present (to exert an inhibiting influence) can be helpful in helping the woman understand what she requires for excitation.

This may then be followed by a series of couple excercises that minimize performance anxiety and pressure, and maximize communication, increasingly varied and more effective stimulation, and playfulness. Gradually, these assignments make it possible for the woman to achieve orgasm with her partner.

Similar task assignments are usually part of the therapy for the woman with secondary or situational anorgasmia, but masturbation has not generally been found to be helpful as a treatment component with these problems.

In secondary dysfunction, relationship difficulties sometimes play a role, and thus treatment may also sometimes need to include communication training and relationship enhancement work.

It is also important in treatment to ascertain that the problem is only one of anorgasmia, and that there is not also a coexisting problem with inhibited sexual desire. Sometimes hypnosis may also assist in increasing concentration, exploring and overcoming subconscious conflicts, and minimizing performance anxiety. Women's therapy groups focused exclusively on this problem have also been found to have some effectiveness.