Sexual Sexuality Function

Sexuality and sexual function

Sexuality is determined by anatomy, physiology, the culture in which a person lives, relationships with others and developmental experiences throughout the life cycle. It includes the perception of being male or female and private thoughts and fantasies as well as behavior. To the average normal person, sexual attraction to another person and the passion and love that follow are deeply associated with feelings of intimate happiness.

Normal sexual behavior brings pleasure to oneself and one’s partner, involves stimulation of the primary sex organs including coitus and often leads to climax; it is devoid of inappropriate feelings of guilt or anxiety and is not compulsive. Recreational, as opposed to relational

Orgasm is characterized in both sexes by an acme of sexual pleasure variously associated with rhythmic contractions of perineal and reproductive structures, cardiovascular and respiratory changes and release of sexual tension. [4]

SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION

Sexual dysfunctions are characterized by disturbances in sexual desire and in the psychophysiological changes associated with the sexual response cycle in men and women. [5]

SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION IN GENERAL POPULATION

It appears that sexual dysfunctions are highly prevalent in both sexes, ranging from 10% to 52% of men and 25% to 63% of women. [6-8] Data from the massachusetts male aging study [9] (mmas) showed that 34.8% of men aged 40 to 70 years had moderate to complete erectile dysfunction, which was strongly related to age, health status, and emotional

Male patients reported less desire for sex, were less likely to achieve and maintain an erection, were more likely to ejaculate more quickly and were less satisfied with the intensity of their orgasms. Female patients reported less enjoyment than the control group.Some studies suggest that elevations in prolactin indirectly affect sexual function via down-regulation of testosterone or estradiol, but other studies find that sexual dysfunction and hyperprolactinemia are independent of testosterone and estradiol levels.[35-37]

The various components of sexual functioning – libido, arousal, ejaculation, and orgasm – can all be impaired in schizophrenia for both psychological and pathophysiological reasons.[38]

Sexual life is a natural component of human behavior, so treatments for persons with schizophrenia that aim to go beyond the narrow focus of reducing symptoms and, rather, focus on quality of life issues will necessarily include consideration of patients’ sexual