Female sexual dysfunction

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Coping and support

By Mayo Clinic staff

At each stage of your life, you may experience changes in sexual desire, arousal and satisfaction. Accepting these changes and exploring new aspects of your sexuality during times of transition contribute to positive sexual experiences.

Understanding your body and what makes for a healthy sexual response can help, too. The more you and your partner know about the physical aspects of your body and how it works, the better able you'll be to find ways to ease sexual difficulties. Ask your doctor about how things like aging, illnesses, pregnancy, menopause and medicines might affect your sex life.

Sexual response often has as much to do with your feelings for your partner as it does with physical sexual stimuli. For women, emotional intimacy tends to be an essential prelude to sexual intimacy. Show affection and communicate openly with your partner about your feelings — it can help you reconnect and discover each other again.

To learn more about your body and how to communicate with your partner, check out these books:

  • "Hot Monogamy: Essential Steps to More Passionate, Intimate Lovemaking," by Patricia Love, M.D., and Jo Robinson
  • "Resurrecting Sex: Solving Sexual Problems & Revolutionizing Your Relationship," by David Schnarch, Ph.D.
  • "What Your Mother Never Told You About S-e-x," by Hilda Hutcherson, M.D.
  • "Sex Over 40," by Saul H. Rosenthal, M.D.

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April 25, 2008

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