Symptoms

Symptoms of sexual problems can include:

• A decrease in the level of desire, which might be expressed by fewer sexual fantasies or thoughts and a reluctance to engage in sexual activity.
• A decrease in the level of arousal. A woman may notice that she feels unreceptive to sexual suggestions and is not able to feel or maintain sexual excitement.
• An inability to reach orgasm after sexual stimulation. (For most women, the clitoris is the main site of orgasm. Not all women have vaginal orgasms.)
• Pain during intercourse.

By definition, sexual problems are symptoms that are distressing for you and/or your relationship with a partner. If you have a symptom that you are not troubled by and that isn't causing a relationship problem, then it is not considered to be a sexual problem.

Most women have a sexual problem at one time or another. For some women, the problem is long-term. Surveys of the general population in the United States found that many women occasionally have sexual problems and worries, including:²

• Concerns about sexuality (6 out of 10 women).
• Lack of interest in sex (3 out of 10 women).
• Sex not always being pleasurable (2 out of 10 women).
• Pain with intercourse (1 to 2 out of 10 women).
• Difficulty becoming aroused (5 out of 10 women).
• Difficulty reaching orgasm (5 out of 10 women).
• Not being able to have an orgasm (2 to 3 out of 10 women).