Chapter 13: Sexual Disorders and Gender Identity

sexual functioning

the ability and capacity to engage in sexual behavior

gender identity

one’s perception of oneself as male or female

sexual desire

in the sexual response cycle, an urge or inclination to engage in sexual activity

arousal phase

in the sexual response cycle, psychological experience of arousal and pleasure as well as physiological changes, such as the tensing of muscles and enlargement of blood vessels and tissues (also called the excitement phase)

plateau phase

in the sexual response cycle, period between arousal and orgasm, during which excitement remains high but stable

orgasm

discharge of neuromuscular tension built up during sexual activity; in men, entails rhythmic contractions of the prostate, seminal vesicles, vas deferens, and penis and seminal discharge; in women, entails contractions of the orgasmic platform and uterus

resolution

in the sexual response cycle, state of deep relaxation following orgasm in which a man loses his erection and a woman’s orgasmic platform subsides

sexual dysfunctions

problems in experiencing sexual arousal or carrying through with sexual acts to the point of sexual arousal

male hypoactive sexual desire disorder

condition in which a man’s desire for sex is diminished to the point that it causes him significant distress or interpersonal difficulties and is not due to transient life circumstances or another sexual dysfunction

female sexual interest/arousal disorder

in women, recurrent inability to attain or maintain the swelling-lubrication response of sexual excitement

erectile disorder

in men, recurrent inability to attain or maintain an erection until the completion of sexual activity

female orgasmic disorder

in women, recurrent delay in or absence of orgasm after having reached the excitement phase of the sexual response cycle (also called anorgasmia)

early or premature ejaculation

recurrent ejaculation within 1 minute of initiation of partnered sexual activity when not desired

delayed ejaculation

marked delay, infrequency, or absence of ejaculation during sexual encounters

genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder

marked difficulty having vaginal penetration; pain or tightening of pelvic floor muscles during penetration

substance-induced sexual disfunction

problems in sexual functioning caused by substance use

performance anxiety

anxiety over sexual performance that interferes with sexual functioning

sensate focus therapy

treatment for sexual dysfunction in which partners alternate between giving and receiving stimulation in a relaxed, openly communicative atmosphere in order to reduce performance anxiety and concern over achieving orgasm by learning each partner’s sexual fulfillment needs

stop-start technique

sex therapy technique used for premature ejaculation; the man or his partner stimulates his penis until he is about to ejaculate; the man then relaxes and concentrates on the sensations in his body until his level of arousal declines; the goal of this technique is for the man to learn to identify the point of ejaculatory inevitability and to control his arousal level at that point

squeeze therapy

sex therapy technique used for premature ejaculation; the man’s partner stimulates him to an erection, and then when he signals that ejaculation is imminent, the partner applies a firm but gentle squeeze to his penis, either at the glans or at the base, for 3 or 4 seconds; the goal of this technique is for the man to learn to identify the point of ejaculatory inevitability and to control his arousal level at that point

paraphilic disorder

disorder characterized by atypical sexual activity that involves one of the following: (1) nonhuman objects, (2) nonconsenting adults, (3) the suffering or humiliation of oneself or one’s partner, or (4) children

fetishistic disorder

paraphilic disorder in which a person uses inanimate objects as the preferred or exclusive source of sexual arousal

transvestic disorder

paraphilic disorder in which a heterosexual man dresses in women’s clothing as his primary means of becoming sexually aroused

sexual sadism disorder

disorder characterized by obtaining sexual gratification through inflicting pain and humiliation on one’s partner

sexual masochism disorder

disorder characterized by obtaining sexual gratification through experiencing pain and humiliation at the hands of one’s partner

sadomasochism

pattern of sexual rituals between a sexually sadistic “giver” and a sexually masochistic “receiver”

voyeuristic disorder

disorder characterized by obtainment of sexual arousal by compulsively and secretly watching another person undressing, bathing, engaging in sex, or being naked

exhibitionist disorder

obtainment of sexual gratification by exposing one’s genitals to involuntary observers

frotteuristic disorder

disorder characterized by obtainment of sexual gratification by rubbing one’s genitals against or fondling the body parts of a nonconsenting person

pedophilic disorder

disorder characterized by adult obtainment of sexual gratification by engaging in sexual activities with young children

aversion therapy

treatment that involves the pairing of unpleasant stimuli with deviant or maladaptive sources of pleasure in order to induce an aversive reaction to the formerly pleasurable stimulus

gender dysphoria

condition in which a person believes that they were born with the wrong sex’s genitals and is fundamentally a person of the opposite sex

transgender

a term for the broad spectrum of individuals who identify with a gender different from their natal (born) biological sex