Healthy Sex Support Group

While well-suited for effective stimulation of the penis, coitus is much less effective at stimulating the clitoris, the seat of the female orgasm, owing to its size and location well outside of the vagina. Many women, up to 70 percent rarely or never achieve orgasm during coitus without simultaneous direct stimulation of the clitoris with the fingers or other implement. Most women do require such direct stimulation, and ignorance or disregard of this fact is seen as a common cause of female anorgasmia.

Anorgasmia is the lack of orgasm during otherwise pleasurable stimulation. It is much more common in women than men. The condition may be related to a psychological discomfort with or aversion to sexual pleasure, or to a basic lack of knowledge of what the woman finds physically pleasing and is likely to result in orgasm. A sense of shame, or the feeling that she "should" be able to climax can compound the problem, along with feelings of shame on the part of her partner, who may believe that he does not excite her sufficiently. [citation needed] Masturbation is one of the best ways for a woman to explore her body and discover what feels good for her. The absence of a partner can remove the sense of performance anxiety and allow the woman to relax and enjoy. Good communication and patience are essential in helping an anorgasmic woman achieve orgasm. Whether a woman considers anorgasmia a problem or not is highly individual, though many women find it very frustrating.

Some males suffer from erectile dysfunction (ED), or impotence, at least occasionally. For those whose impotence is caused by medical conditions, prescription drugs such as Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra are available. However, doctors caution against the unnecessary use of these drugs because they are accompanied by serious risks such as increased chance of heart attack. Moreover, using a drug to counteract the symptom — impotence — can mask the underlying problem, whether medical or psychological, causing the impotence and does not resolve it. A serious medical condition might be aggravated if left untreated.

A more common sexual disorder in males is premature ejaculation (PE). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (Food and Drug Administration) is examining the drug dapoxetine to treat premature ejaculation. In clinical trials, those with PE who took dapoxetine experienced intercourse three to four times longer before orgasm than without the drug.

The American Urological Association (AUA) estimates that premature ejaculation could affect 27 to 34 percent of men in the United States. The AUA also estimates that 10 to 12 percent of men in the United States are affected by erectile dysfunction.

Vaginismus is involuntary tensing of the pelvic floor musculature, making coitus distressing, painful, and sometimes impossible.

Dyspareunia is painful or uncomfortable intercourse which can be due to a variety of causes.