What anorgasmia can reveal about your health from ‘silent killers' to horror brain diseases -are you at risk?
If you struggle to climax, you're not alone. Anorgasmia is common in women and some men. Here we look at when there is cause for concern, and who should seek medical help - and fast
O-MG What anorgasmia can reveal about your health from 'silent killers' to horror brain diseases -are you at risk?
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
MANY women (and some men) are no strangers to faking an orgasm.
Fatigue and exhaustion, boredom, and being drunk are among the top reasons people never reach the big O. But what if there was something more sinister going on?
3
There are many lifestyle factors that could be to blame, but not being able to climax could be signalling something going on with your health
It turns out anorgasmia - as it's known - can be a sign of underlying, hidden concerns.
A 2014 YouGov survey found that 58 per cent of British women and 21 per cent of British men have faked an orgasm.
ZAVA research demonstrated similar findings - 68 per cent of women and 27 per cent of men in a 2000-person survey admitted to faking sexual satisfaction.
While there are plenty of lifestyle factors that could be to blame, anorgasmia - difficulty or an inability to achieve an orgasm - is actually a recognised condition by medics - and could be signalling an underlying health problem.
Dr Nikki Ramskill, a GP and founder of The Female Health Doctor Clinic, explained anorgasmia is when someone struggles to reach orgasm, even when they're aroused and getting enough stimulation.
"It can affect anyone but is more common in women," she tells Sun Health.
"Some people are more likely to have difficulty with orgasms, including women, especially during perimenopause or after menopause, those experiencing stress, anxiety, or past trauma, people in relationships with communication or intimacy issues, and anyone taking certain medications."
There may be no single reason why someone may struggle to orgasm.
But Dr Ramskill says some common causes include:
Mental health issues - anxiety, depression, stress, or body image concerns.
Side effects from medication - some antidepressants, antipsychotics, and blood pressure medications can reduce sexual function.
Relationship difficulties - lack of emotional connection, past negative experiences, or sexual trauma.
Lifestyle factors - excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, or lack of physical activity.
Mental load - the ever-increasing "to-do" list and mental load that affects many women.
I had a vagina makeover including a 'vampire' lift & infamous 'O-shot'...it's transformed me from a knackered mum of two to sex goddess having best orgasms of my life
But if orgasms used to happen easily and have suddenly become difficult, it could be a red flag for something more serious going on.
Dr Ramskill advises: "It can be a sign of neurological conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) or Parkinson's disease, circulation problems caused by diabetes or heart disease, and hormonal imbalances, like thyroid disorders or low sex hormones.
"It could also be a sign of pelvic floor dysfunction or nerve damage."
In MS, nerve damage in the brain and spinal cord, particularly along the pathways involved in sexual function, can disrupt the messages between the brain and sexual organs, impacting arousal and orgasm.
Parkinson's disease, with its impact on the brain's production of dopamine, can also affect sexual function, leading to difficulties with arousal and orgasm.
Diabetic neuropathy, nerve damage caused by prolonged high blood sugar, can affect the nerves involved in sexual function, leading to anorgasmia.
Similarly, heart disease can reduce blood flow to the genitals, making it difficult to achieve arousal and orgasm.
Decreased estrogen levels, often associated with menopause, can lead to vaginal dryness and decreased arousal, making it harder to reach orgasm.
Additionally, hormonal fluctuations and imbalances, such as those caused by thyroid disease or certain medications, can also affect sexual desire and arousal, ultimately impacting the ability to orgasm.
What ELSE to watch out for?
3
If you're experiencing pain during sex, see your GP
Credit: Getty
If you experience any of these along with difficulty orgasming, it's a good idea to see a doctor, says Dr Ramskill:
Loss of interest in sex or difficulty getting aroused
Pain during sex
Numbness or tingling in the genital area
Irregular periods
Sudden weight changes
Fatigue
Mood swings
Can you treat anorgasmia yourself?
According to Dr Babak Ashrafi at Superdrug Online Doctor there are some self-help strategies you can adopt.
"These include exploring sexual stimulation, such as sex toys, to discover what type of stimulation works best for you and exploring new sexual positions," he tells Sun Health.
"A good quality lubricant can help reduce discomfort and enhance sensation.
"Managing your stress levels through techniques such as deep breathing, meditation and yoga can also help improve your sexual wellbeing.
"In certain cases, changes in medication may also help."
And when should you see a medic?
3
If sexual problems persist it's important to seek professional help
Credit: Getty
While self-help strategies can be effective for some, if the issue persists or is causing significant distress, it's important to seek professional help, Dr Ashrafi says.
He adds: "Your GP can assess any underlying physical or psychological causes and offer guidance and support."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
24 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
How often women should have sex to be their happiest revealed in major study
Scroll down to discover which kind of women were most likely to be sexually satisfied JOY OF SEX How often women should have sex to be their happiest revealed in major study Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A WEEKLY romp is the key to a woman's happiness, according to a study. Women rated their relationship satisfaction highest if they had sex at least once a week, with 85 per cent pleased with their lot. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up That compared to 66 per cent for wives and girlfriends who got it on once a month, and 17 per cent who did it less than that. Study author Alexandra Janssen, from the University of Manchester, said: 'Women having sex less than once a week were far less likely to be satisfied in their sexual relationships. "Therapists working with women to improve their sexual relationship satisfaction might focus on increasing the frequency of sex.' The study questioned 483 women in New Zealand who had been in a relationship within the past year. Read More on sex DEAR DEIDRE I found out my partner is married when he called me by another name during sex Just over half — 56 per cent — said they were sexually satisfied. Results showed that satisfaction was higher if they had sex more often, had more orgasms, rated sex as an important aspect of their life and were younger. About six in ten Brits have sex less often than once a week, polling by YouGov shows. Ten per cent say they get lucky weekly and about another 15 per cent claim to do it more often. Writing in the International Journal of Sexual Health, Ms Janssen said: 'Sexual intimacy plays an important role in romantic relationships. 'In our study, less frequent sex was associated with a lower likelihood of sexual relationship satisfaction. Women who reported having sex one to two times a month were approximately three times less likely to be satisfied than those having sex two or more times a week. The benefits of having sex 'This effect was even more pronounced for women who reported having sex less than once a month, who were 25 times less likely to be satisfied.' Women aged 18 to 24 were most likely to be sexually satisfied and over-45s least likely. Those who rated sex as very important also had happier love lives than those who did not. Ms Janssen said: 'It seems unlikely that low self-rated importance of sex causes low sexual satisfaction. That may cause women to rate the importance of sex as low as a coping strategy.'
The Sun
30 minutes ago
- The Sun
How often women should have sex to be their happiest revealed in major study
A WEEKLY romp is the key to a woman's happiness, according to a study. Women rated their relationship satisfaction highest if they had sex at least once a week, with 85 per cent pleased with their lot. That compared to 66 per cent for wives and girlfriends who got it on once a month, and 17 per cent who did it less than that. Study author Alexandra Janssen, from the University of Manchester, said: 'Women having sex less than once a week were far less likely to be satisfied in their sexual relationships. "Therapists working with women to improve their sexual relationship satisfaction might focus on increasing the frequency of sex.' The study questioned 483 women in New Zealand who had been in a relationship within the past year. Just over half — 56 per cent — said they were sexually satisfied. Results showed that satisfaction was higher if they had sex more often, had more orgasms, rated sex as an important aspect of their life and were younger. About six in ten Brits have sex less often than once a week, polling by YouGov shows. Ten per cent say they get lucky weekly and about another 15 per cent claim to do it more often. Writing in the International Journal of Sexual Health, Ms Janssen said: 'Sexual intimacy plays an important role in romantic relationships. 'In our study, less frequent sex was associated with a lower likelihood of sexual relationship satisfaction. Women who reported having sex one to two times a month were approximately three times less likely to be satisfied than those having sex two or more times a week. The benefits of having sex 'This effect was even more pronounced for women who reported having sex less than once a month, who were 25 times less likely to be satisfied.' Women aged 18 to 24 were most likely to be sexually satisfied and over-45s least likely. Those who rated sex as very important also had happier love lives than those who did not. Ms Janssen said: 'It seems unlikely that low self-rated importance of sex causes low sexual satisfaction. That may cause women to rate the importance of sex as low as a coping strategy.' 1
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Tourist dies after drinking trance-inducing tea on spiritual rainforest retreat
Aaron Wayne Castranova, 41, reportedly from Alabama, in the US, suffered "multi-organ failure" after having a hallucinogenic drink at a spiritual retreat in the Amazon A tourist has died after drinking a trance-inducing herbal tea while staying at a spiritual retreat deep in the Amazon rainforest. Aaron Wayne Castranova, 41, suffered a severe reaction after partaking in the hallucinogenic drink in Loreto, part of the Peruvian Amazon rainforest that lies close to the border with Brazil. The regional prosecutor's forensic pathologist, Narciso Lopez, said that Mr Castranova, who is believed to be from Alabama, in the United States, suffered catastrophic "multi-organ failure" that led to his death having drunk the tea, which is known as ayahuasca. The psychoactive brew is traditionally used by Indigenous cultures in the Amazon and Orinoco basins for ceremonies and healing. Mr Castranova was at a spiritual session when he collapsed in the La Casa de Guillermo ICONA hostel, which is in the indigenous Santa Maria de Ojeda community. This location is well known for its 'spiritual tourism' where visitors take part in psychedelic rituals under the supervision of a shaman. It is reported by the hostel's management that Mr Castranova had not informed them that he was taking antibiotics which they alleged caused the fatal reaction. Mr Lopez said that ayahuesca can cause 'irreversible damage' as well as death. It is traditionally used by indigenous groups in spiritual and healing ceremonies, reported The drink is made from the bark of a vine and local vegetation that contains the hallucinogenic N-N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT). Local tourism where visitors seek to take part in the spiritual ceremonies has spiked in recent years, with some seeking it as a way to improve their mental health. There is a warning on the UK government's travel advice for Peru about drinks which contain hallucinogenic drugs and are offered for 'spiritual cleansing'. It also says that there have been reports of sex attacks during ceremonies. It states: 'Shamans and other people offer 'spiritual cleansing' (Ayahuasca or San Pedro) to tourists in the Amazon area, northern Peru and Cusco. This often involves drinking a brew containing dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a hallucinogenic drug that is a Class A substance in the UK. "This brew is not regulated and its effect on existing medical conditions is not well understood. People have become seriously ill and, in some cases, died after taking part. Spiritual cleansing retreats are usually far from populated areas, making it difficult to get medical attention. There have also been reports of sexual assault during these ceremonies.' It comes after last year British woman Maureen Rainford, 54, collapsed and died after drinking ayahuasca. The mum-of-three, from Romford, east London, had booked the £800 retreat at the Ayahuasca and San Pedro Pisatahua Retreat in the Bolivian Amazon last October, her family said. Maureen's daughter Rochel, 32, said she was told by a resort official that her mum had suffered a "medical emergency" during the retreat. She had complained about feeling unwell after drinking the tea, with her heart and breathing rate plummeting. Sadly, despite CPR efforts, Maureen died one hour later - before a doctor arrived. Rochel said: "There should be a trained medic on standby when hallucinogenic drugs are being handed out in a remote area. Eric [a worker at the retreat] tried to insist that she must be cremated in Bolivia as her body would decompose, but I did not want any cover-up." Rochel reportedly said that her mum's body was returned after she contacted the British consulate in Bolivia. She revealed that a post-mortem confirmed that her mum suffered a fatal heart attack.
