Sexual dysfunction is broadly defined as the inability to fully enjoy sexual intercourse. 

The disorder must be deemed to have caused significant distress. In addition to the existing specifiers of lifelong vs acquired & generalized vs situational, a new severity scale was added: the disorder can be described as mild, moderate or severe.

A new criteria called “associated features” was introduced. It is subdivided into 5 categories: 

  1. Partner factors (e.g., partner sexual problem; partner health status); 
  2. Relationship factors (e.g., poor communication); 
  3. Individual vulnerability factors (e.g., poor body image; history of sexual or emotional abuse), psychiatric comorbidity (e.g., depression; anxiety), or stressors (e.g., job loss; bereavement);
  4. Cultural or religious factors (e.g., inhibitions related to prohibitions against sexual activity); and
  5. Medical factors relevant to prognosis.

Causal Factors in Sexual Dysfunction - predisposing factors, precipitating factors and maintaining factors.

About 43% of women and about 31% of men have experienced sexual dysfunction based on several surveys. This makes sexual dysfunction one of the most common psychological problem.

Specific techniques to overcome some of the disorder symptoms are to increase communication between the couple, increase self understanding and sensate focus exercises will help the couple Immensely alleviate some issues with immediate intervention and help of their doctor i.e. A sexologist or an andrologist.