How does stress affect women’s sexual arousal?
It is known that stress during sexual encounters causes sexual dysfunctions in both men and women. Less known are the effects of chronic stress on sexual function.
Chronic stress is a condition in which the person is experiencing mental stress for prolonged periods of time and simultaneously feels he has no control over the difficulties of life.
Particularly in women, it has been associated with low sexual arousal of the genitals (eg vaginal lubrication), and may not affect the subjective feeling of arousal.
How does stress affect genital sexual arousal?
Researchers have tried to explore the mechanism by which stress affects sexual arousal in women.
First, it is associated with increased cortisol (stress hormone), and also it is associated with greater distraction away from sexual stimuli. Especially the distraction away from sexual stimuli has a very important impact on arousal.
In other words, when a woman experiences chronic stress, the likelihood to experience genital arousal difficulties increases (e.g., may be dry or inadequate vaginal lubrication during intercourse), because in such circumstances it is difficult to stay focused on sexual stimuli.
Because chronic stress has multiple negative effects that are not limited to sexual function, it is important for women who experience stress on daily basis to receive psychotherapeutic help in order for them to learn techniques of how to manage and improve the quality not only of sexual life, but the whole life.
Hamilton LD, Meston CM (2013) Chronic stress and sexual function in women. J Sex Med 10: 2443-2454.
