Female and Male Sexual Dysfunctions -
”Classic” Dysfunctions

Confusing Traditional Terminology

A great deal of unnecessary confusion is still being created by the traditional therapeutic terminology. It largely dates from a time when the human sexual response was inadequately understood and when much more attention was paid to the sexual problems of men than to those of women. As a result, the terms used for male and female sexual problems are entirely different. However, this is misleading.
Recently, there have been attempts to simplify the terminology by avoiding the term „dysfunction“ altogether and to speak instead more generally of „disorder“. However, this term strikes others as too broad and imprecise. Still others reject it as a throw-back to the earlier days of an uncritical psychiatry. To them, “disorder” sounds denigrating, since it seems to suggest that there is something seriously wrong with the clients when, in fact, only their sexual response is impaired.

Traditional Terms

Most current textbooks of sex therapy still distinguish between male and female sexual dysfunctions in a way similar to the following table:

Female and Male Sexual Dysfunctions: Traditional Definitions

Sexual Dysfunctions in Women Sexual Dysfunctions in Men General Sexual Dysfunction (Frigidity) Vaginismus Orgastic Dysfunction Erectile Dysfunction (Impotence) Premature Ejaculation Retarded Ejaculation Ejaculatory Incompetence Ejaculation without Orgasm