Sexual Health Week - Let's Talk Ladies! - Sexynews #40

In today’s society, we tend to see sex as something that is more important to men than it is to women but this is simply not the case. What is true is that women often feel more shame in talking about it. This is typically due to historical trends that have shaped how society views sex.

Many women suffer from some form of sexual dysfunction in silence. We are finally starting to talk about the sexual pleasure gap; it's kind of like the wage gap, but messier. Women tend to reach climax less than 60% of the time they have sex whereas men reach climax 90% of the time.

Managing Sexual Dysfunction

There are a number of issues that affect a woman's sexual health and there isn’t always just one solution to them. The treatment usually depends on what's causing the problem and can vary in ways you can treat it. We have been sold all kinds of medications to help fix this issue, but this can’t always be fixed by simply taking a pill. The first step is to find out what is causing the dysfunction. That may mean speaking to your GP or a therapist if you haven’t already. Once you have identified the problem, the next step is to work towards resolving the issue so you can have a complete and fulfilling sex life.

What Affects a Woman's Sexual Health

Things that can affect her sexual health include:

• Mental health: Issues such as fear, guilt, shame, embarrassment, or awkwardness about having sex may make it hard to relax. Stress, depression and anxiety play a key role in a woman's ability to relax and unwind and when medication for these conditions is thrown into the mix, it can make it even more difficult enjoy a fulfilling sex life. When you cannot relax, arousal can be hard (no pun intended), and pain may result.
• Relationship issues: Stress within your relationship can cause sexual distress and make it difficult to enjoy sexual intimacy. This is often caused by factors ranging from financial to parenting problems, mismatched sex drive, etc. Any kind of common relationship issue can wreak havoc on a woman's sex drive. 
• Medications: Medications, including the pill, antidepressants, antibiotics and some analgesics may have a negative affect on a woman's sex drive. 
• Physical medical conditions: Some medical conditions can indirectly affect sexual response. These conditions include excess weight or negative body image, arthritis, diabetes, cancer, and thyroid conditions. Some women who have had surgery find that it affects their body image, which may decrease their desire for sex. Other medical conditions that may affect a woman's sexual health include high-tone pelvic-floor dysfunction, vaginal atrophy, vaginismus, provoked vestibulodynia, vulvar dermatoses, vaginal agenesis, and post-radiation adhesion. These conditions may be alleviated using conditioning therapy with the use of Vaginal Dilators. 
• Sex has become too routine & predictable: If sex has become same old same old, explore different times and places to have sex or try new Positions. Make the time for more cuddling and kissing. Try using Sensual Massage, self-stimulation, oral sex or using a Vibrator or Stimulator, depending on what you like. Don’t be afraid to talk about what you like, what you don't like and what you'd like to try. An open line of communication is crucial for a fulfilling sex life. 
• Lack of emotional intimacy: For most women, sex is more than just a physical act; it’s also a opportunity for emotional connection which helps build a bond in a relationship. Try not to prioritise the orgasm as the end goal of sex. Take the time to cuddle, kiss and explore each others bodies and make the journey there just as important as the ending. Incorporate trust building techniques into your sex play. Taking it in turns to Blindfold each other and using your senses to explore your partner's body and get to know them intimately can seriously increase the intimacy between partners. 
• Dyspareunia: Pain during sex, is caused by the stretching and pulling of endometrial implants located behind the vagina and lower uterus. Dyspareunia has also been connected with more negative attitudes towards sexuality as a whole. While the discomfort of endometriosis (often the cause of Dyspareunia) can be ongoing, there are things that can be done to help ease the pain and anxiety of intercourse. Try using foreplay, mutual masturbation, Kegal Toys, pelvic therapy, Lubricants, Dilators, timing and experimenting with different sex positions.
• Learn your body: Connect to your body and learn what gives you pleasure. Start with the simple things such as the feeling of a warm shower, a fluffy blanket on your skin and the feeling of your own hands on your body. Masturbation is something that is usually associated with the favourite pastime of men but women enjoy self pleasure too! Learning our body and what touch feels right is essential for our whole health and sexual well-being. If we don’t know what is right for us, how are we going to tell our partner how to touch, where to touch and what pressure to apply? The simplest and most satisfying way of finding out is through masturbation. Through the use of just our own hand or the use of Sex Toys, we can fully learn what touch and sensations are right for us. Stimulators are often a go-to for many women and are the perfect toy for self exploration.  

Boost Your Libido

When you’re so busy taking care of others or not feeling 100%, it can be difficult to relax and get aroused. Sometimes, all it takes is a bit of a nudge to get you into the mood. The rest is up to you and the techniques you use to make it as pleasurable as possible, given the circumstances. We recommend browsing our Female Sexaul Enhancers for something to help boost your libido. The ON For Her Ultra will dramatically heighten a woman's arousal, and most women will feel as though they are lubricating more which adds to the pleasure sensations.

Sexual Health as a Whole

Sex is about our whole health and well-being and women are owning their sexuality and asking what sex is for them. For many women, it's less about the happy ending or having the same or more orgasms as men and more about feeling whole and sensual. It's about understanding our body and defining what sexual health is and learning about our body and accepting ourselves and our own unique experiences. This is crucial so we can deeply and intimately know what touch feels right, what pressure, what speed and what context so you can have the confidence to say something. If we define sex as a part of our whole health and well-being, and empower women to fully own it, then this is the beginning to closing that sexual pleasure gap.