Do you have got low sexual desire? Perhaps you suffer from sexual anorexia

Anaphrodisia, also known in popular parlance as ‘sexual anorexia’, is a disorder characterised by low sexual desire, or reasonably, a rejection of sexual experiences and physical contact.

Under normal conditions, anyone can have periods by which the will to have sex decreases. Nevertheless, when that is constant otherwise you suffer from many periods like this, it’s best to discover the rationale and supply an answer. Within the case of anaphrodisia, there are some treatments that might help. Below, we detail it.

What’s anaphrodisia?

In response to the Glossary of Comprehensive Sexuality Education, anaphrodisia is “the decrease or lack of sexual desire (libido)”. Also called sexual anorexia, this disorder is diagnosed in individuals who constantly refuse any sexual contact, experience, or expression.

It has a physical or psychological origin. As with anorexia, the sufferer has a special perception of sexuality, to the purpose of feeling distress when exposed to any sexual expression.

No matter age or gender, it can affect each men and ladies. It’s necessary to notice that it could possibly occur progressively or come on suddenly. Also, it should be experienced for a substantial time to acquire such a diagnosis.

The excellent news is that it could possibly be treated, which we’ll discuss later.

Causes of sexual anorexia

Anaphrodisia has different causes. It’s essential to discover them, because depending on which is the case, the treatment differs. Let’s take an in depth look.

Physical causes

• Decrease of estrogen in women
• Low testosterone in men
• Painful genital surgery
• Childbirth or traumatic gynecological experiences
• Penile fracture or genital injuries
• Diseases comparable to hypothyroidism

Psychological causes

• Fear of poor sexual performance
• Sexual abuse
• Limiting or inappropriate religious beliefs
• Fear of delight
• Stress, depression or anxiety
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Obsessive disorders
• Alcohol or substance abuse

Symptoms

The clearest symptom of anaphrodisia is the shortage of sexual desire or the rejection of any type of intimacy. As well as, the next manifestations may occur:

• Difficulties in reaching orgasm
• Pain during sexual activity
• Self-esteem problems and body dysmorphia
• Isolation and loneliness
• Problems in establishing stable relationships
• Perfectionism, delusions of grandeur or inferiority
• Feeling shame for every little thing related to sex and sexuality
• Repression of impulses
• Fear of the contagion of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD)
• Discomfort with other people’s sexuality
• Prejudicial expressions about sex-related issues
• Criticism of the partner as a way to push him/her away and never have sex

How should anaphrodisia be treated?

The treatment for anaphrodisia is determined by its cause and, in any case, it’s obligatory to be accompanied by a mental health skilled comparable to a psychologist. In actual fact, sometimes a multidisciplinary approach is obligatory, especially if there are physical causes involved.

In response to the Mayo Clinic, when there are hormonal causes behind female sexual dysfunction, it’s possible to offer treatment with estrogen therapy (with drugs comparable to ospemifene, flibanserin, or bremelanotide).

It must be noted that if the person has a partner, the partner should show support, through patience and no pressure to have sex. The latter may be very necessary, because the affected party may turn into much more set in his or her disorder, as indicated by research on sexual anorexia in women.

Again, it must be emphasized that treatment must be prescribed by physicians and psychologists. It includes problems of self-esteem, body dysmorphia, feelings of inferiority, marital conflicts, and lots of other serious aspects, and this shouldn’t be ignored. Due to this fact, it shouldn’t be approached calmly.

What to recollect about anaphrodysia?

Anaphrodysia shouldn’t be self-diagnosed, as there are other causes behind low sexual desire that don’t have anything to do with this disorder. Sometimes, other triggers of low libido are the next:

• Age-related changes: Each men and ladies have a decrease in libido as they reach sexual maturity.
• Menstrual disorders: These include hormonal fluctuations that will cause little or no sexual appetite.
• Mental treatment: The usage of psychiatric medications, comparable to antidepressants, can inhibit sexual desire. Something similar occurs with anxiolytics and antihypertensives.
• Health conditions: These include obstructive sleep apnea or others that cause a decrease in the extent of testosterone.

No matter whether your low sex drive is attributable to anaphrodisia or not, it’s best to seek the advice of along with your primary care physician to initiate a course of treatment. After all, if sexual dysfunction doesn’t pose an issue to your quality of life, there’s no have to be alarmed.

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