Prevalence:
        Prevalence is difficult to estimate because many cases of FOD remain unreported because women are either embarrassed about not being able to achieve orgasm, uncomfortable about talking about their sex lives,  or they do not realize that anorgasmia is a "real" problem.  Below are a few figures from different sources:

• Approximately 20-30% of women rarely or never achieve orgasm through sexual intercourse (Gamble and Menzies)
• 43% of women between the ages of 18 and 59 are considered "sexually dysfunctional" (Lavie-Ajayi, 57)

Possible Causes of FOD:
        There are many possible causes of FOD including relationship problems, physical problems, and psychological problems.

• Societal expectations of what "sex" should be.  Generally, society (and some couples) may consider sex as only intercourse and that intercourse ends when the man ejaculates.  Therefore, sex does not require an orgasm on the woman's part, so a lack of orgasms during penetration might be perceived as normal.  Sometimes a "woman's inability to achieve orgasm [might] be a result of a man's lack of ejaculatory control." Therefore the woman may only be orgasmic during masturbation or non-intercourse sexual acts, like oral sex.  (Read, 5)
• A woman's perception of sex itself.  A woman might associate sex with negative thoughts, which causes her stress.  For example, a woman might consider sex as "sinful" or "bad" and that only bad girls enjoy sex. The stress and negative feelings about sex cause a woman to feel disconnected from her partner, therefore decreasing her chances of achieving orgasm. (Birnbaum, 66)
• Physical problems, like diabetes might make it more difficult to achieve an orgasm.
• Poor relationships.  If a woman feels "abused and uncomfortable with the partner" it will, of course, be more difficult for her to achieve an orgasm while in a sexual act with him.  Also, poor communication within a relationship may cause more difficulty in meeting the woman's sexual needs. (Birnbaum, 67).  If a woman cannot express what pleases her or is uncomfortable addressing the subject with her partner, then the siuation becomes even more frustrating.
• Frustration from previous anorgasmia. Once a woman has experienced difficulty or delay in reaching an orgasm, if there is any sort of delay on a subsequent attempt, she will become easily frustrated and therefore make it even harder to "let go." Women report  worrying about their male partners and what they will think if they don't orgasm like "real women."  (Lavie-Ajayi, 62)
  

Let's Talk About Orgasms     Diagnostic Criteria 
        Prevalence/Causes                 Treatment   
                 About Me                          Sources


Return to the index page