Communication and Associated Relationship Issues in Female Anorgasmia

Abstract

Communication problems are among the most common complaints brought to couples' counseling and are believed to play a central role in the development and maintenance of many sexual dysfunctions. The present study examined self-reported communication patterns within heterosexual couples where the wife is experiencing anorgasmia and within two groups of control couples. As hypothesized, couples with an anorgasmic female partner reported more problematic communication regarding issues of sexuality than did control couples. In particular, the anorgasmic women and their male partners reported significantly more discomfort than did controls in discussing sexual activities associated with direct clitoral stimulation. The etiologic and treatment implications of these differences are discussed.

The DSM Diagnostic Criteria for Female Orgasmic Disorder

“…While younger age has been associated with greater likelihood of orgasmic difficulties in some studies (e.g., Hawton, Gath, & Day, 1994;Laumann et al, 1999), other research has either found no relationship between age and orgasm problems (Oberg et al, 2004), or has reported the converse i.e., orgasm problems more common in older women (Richters et al, 2003). Variables that have been more consistently related to experience of orgasmic difficulties (and indeed to most sexual problems in women) have been poor physical and mental health (Bancroft et al, 2003b;Laumann et al, 1999;Richters et al, 2003) and relationship difficulties/partner variables (Dennerstein, Lehert, Burger, & Dudley, 1999;Kelly, Strassberg, & Turner, 2004).…”

Behavioral Assessment of Couples' Communication in Female Orgasmic Disorder

“…Each participant also individually completed several selfreport measures (see Kelly, Strassberg, & Turner, 2004). Participants were Downloaded by [University of Auckland Library] at 13:03 04 November 2014 informed that information shared in interviews and questionnaires would not be revealed to their partner.…”

“…More recently, Kelly, Strassberg, and Turner (2004) compared self-report data on communication (outside the lab) for couples with an anorgasmic woman partner with that of controls, including both a problem-free and a nonsexual problem-contrast group. They found that couples with an anorgasmic female partner self-reported more discomfort when communicating about issues of sexuality than did control couples.…”

Effects of Individual Differences on the Efficacy of Different Distracters During Visual Sexual Stimulation in Women

“…For example, a relationship may generally be unsatisfactory in the division of cleaning, time spent with friends instead of the primary partner, and disputes with in-laws, but the partner still may provide strong, verbal support of the woman's physical attractiveness. Research has shown that couples in which the female partner was anorgasmic indicated more difficulty with sexual communication as compared to couples without anorgasmia (Kelly, Strassberg, & Turner, 2004). Increased non-sexual communication alone, however, was not effective at reducing problems after a sexual problem was established.…”