Common Sexual Disorders in Women
The Two Common Sexual Disorders In Females
Tiarra Stuart
Centralia College
Theorectical Background In women there are two different "sexual pain disorders" that are categorized. These are Vaginismus and dyspareunia. They were first categorized in the DSM-111-R(American Psychiatric Association,1987). These were also put into three other books as a sexual pian disorder(American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists,1995; AmericanPsychiatric Association,1994; and World Health Orginization,1992). In the DSM-IV, sexual pain disorders are the only pain problem that is outside of "pain disorders" and reflects the idea that it may be a special type of pain associated with sexual activity. This pain is also diffrent than any other type of pain listed. They ask a interesting question, that should make all women think "is the pain sexual or is the sex painful?"(Blink,Meana,Berkley,&Khalifa,1990). The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-HI-R) introduced the term "sexual pain disorder" to classify dyspareunia and vaginismus as sexual dysfunctions (American Psychiatric Association, 1987). Vaginismus and Dyspareunia are sexual issues that do not include a biological cause. Researchers believe that these are pain disorders that interfere with sexuality rather than sexual disorders that are caracterzied by pain. This focuses on the clinican and reseacher on the central phenonon-pain. It gives a new idea to research and treatment.
Participants
Women who participated in these studies were premenopused and between the ages of 18 and 45 years. They were also in a steady relationship for atleast six months. Women were disculded from the group if any of the following applied to them; pregnancy or lactation,a diagonsis of a related disorder according to DSM-IV-TR (American Psyciatric Association,2000). All potential participants had to go through a sexual function interview by the first author during a first visit at the
Tiarra Stuart
Centralia College
Theorectical Background In women there are two different "sexual pain disorders" that are categorized. These are Vaginismus and dyspareunia. They were first categorized in the DSM-111-R(American Psychiatric Association,1987). These were also put into three other books as a sexual pian disorder(American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists,1995; AmericanPsychiatric Association,1994; and World Health Orginization,1992). In the DSM-IV, sexual pain disorders are the only pain problem that is outside of "pain disorders" and reflects the idea that it may be a special type of pain associated with sexual activity. This pain is also diffrent than any other type of pain listed. They ask a interesting question, that should make all women think "is the pain sexual or is the sex painful?"(Blink,Meana,Berkley,&Khalifa,1990). The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-HI-R) introduced the term "sexual pain disorder" to classify dyspareunia and vaginismus as sexual dysfunctions (American Psychiatric Association, 1987). Vaginismus and Dyspareunia are sexual issues that do not include a biological cause. Researchers believe that these are pain disorders that interfere with sexuality rather than sexual disorders that are caracterzied by pain. This focuses on the clinican and reseacher on the central phenonon-pain. It gives a new idea to research and treatment.
Participants
Women who participated in these studies were premenopused and between the ages of 18 and 45 years. They were also in a steady relationship for atleast six months. Women were disculded from the group if any of the following applied to them; pregnancy or lactation,a diagonsis of a related disorder according to DSM-IV-TR (American Psyciatric Association,2000). All potential participants had to go through a sexual function interview by the first author during a first visit at the
References: Binik, Y. M., Bergeron, S., & KhalifE, S. (2000). Dyspareunia. In S. R. Leiblum & R. C. Rosen (Eds.), Principles and practice of sex therapy (pp. 154-181). New York: Guilford. Binik, Y. M., & Koerner, N. (1998). [Catastrophization and vestibular pain during the cotton swab test]. Unpublished raw data. Binik, Y. M., Meana, M. Berkley, K., & Khalife, S. (1999). Dyspareunia: Is the pain sexual or is the sex painful? Annual Review of Sex Research, 210-236.