Psychological Causes of FSD

Similar to impotence in men, female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a wide spread problem, and it’s also a sensitive condition to discuss or seek help for. Most people don’t wants to openly discuss their sex life with a stranger, and it’s only in more recent years, with the rise of impotence treatments, that women have been confident enough to speak up. The number of women affected by the condition has increased steadily, and it is only now that doctors are really showing interest in the causes and treatments of sexual dysfunction in women.

There can be a lot of causes for a woman’s FSD, which can be easily divided into physical and psychological causes. Psychological causes are a major contributing cause to the condition, as a person’s well being, mental state, emotional state and stress or anxiety levels all play a role in overall sexual functioning. Below are listed some of the psychological causes of FSD.

• Stress - One of the bi-products of stress is exhaustion. Women who suffer from high levels of stress spend a lot of their energy worrying about work, family, their homes, friends, children etc. All the energy consumed worrying leaves a woman exhausted, which causes her to seek sleep and not physical activity. This stress and exhaustion leads to a lack of sex drive and is a major psychological cause of FSD.


• Body image and low self esteem - Many people are driven by images and expectations perpetuated by the media to reach for impossible goals, especially when it comes to social status, materialistic products and their body image. Women are often persuaded by magazines and billboards that tell them a toned, size 00, size 34C bust are the norm. About 1% of the entire population fit into this category. This poor body image becomes low self esteem, and if a woman doesn’t love her own body, she may find it difficult to show it off or let someone else love it.


• Depression - Depression affects more women than men, and is generally first experienced between the ages of 18 and 44. Depression is a psychological cause of FSD and is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain which in turn is caused by severe stress, family problems, grief, emotional conflict, and many other negative emotional causes. This chemical imbalance lowers a woman’s sex drive; in fact the change in hormones and chemicals changes her mood swings and her ability to control them. Interestingly enough, women who are diagnosed with depression are often given antidepressants, which in some cases has lowered the libido even more.


• Relationship problems - If a woman is struggling with FSD and is in a relationship, she could be suffering from relationship problems. Conflict, a lack of communication and constant fighting will accumulate a lot of stress, anger and depression. A lack of trust in a partner is also a major psychological cause of FSD because when you are involved in sexual relations, you are at your most vulnerable. If you cannot trust your partner, for what ever reason, you will not be able to fully let go during sex.


• Drug and alcohol abuse - Drug and alcohol abuse not only wears down the body physically, but it wears down your mind and will power. If you use drug and alcohol excessively, your sex drive will be at an all time low, your senses will be less receptive and sex will only be associated with being high or drunk. People who have completed rehab often have to learn how to be sexually aroused when sober, again.


• Sexual or emotional abuse - Women who have previously suffered some form of emotional and sexual abuse during childhood, adolescence or even adulthood with an abusive partner will have major psychological issues when it comes to engaging in future sexual activity.


• Dysthymia - Dysthymia is actually a form of depression, but it is incredibly mild and very hard to diagnose in women, as sufferers can generally continue with everyday tasks normally. It is a psychological cause of FSD because women who have it feel incredibly sad, overwhelmed and unappreciated. These feelings translate into feelings of inadequacy and women often withdraw from sex altogether.

All the psychological causes of FSD can cause a woman to withdraw from sex, experience a low libido or sex drive, and even cause her sexual organs and responses to stop functioning properly. Psychological causes of FSD can be treated however, either with sexual therapists, couples counselling, or group therapy. If you think you are suffering from one of the psychological causes of FSD above, do not hesitate to contact our doctor for a consultation to find out more information.