Glossary

The following glossary is provided to help you understand a few subjects related to sexual health.

Biofeedback   

A treatment conducted mainly by physical therapists to help patients learn to strengthen and relax their pelvic floor muscles in order to improve bladder function and decrease pelvic pain. Biofeedback uses electronic and mechanical instruments to accurately measure the action of the pelvic floor muscles and provide "feedback" information to the patient.

Dyspareunia

Dyspareunia describes genital pain before, during or after intercourse.

Female Orgasm Disorder

The delay or absence of orgasm after "normal" arousal. Orgasm problems may be lifelong or acquired due to a biological or hormonal change. Some people learn to stop an orgasm due to a fear of physical/emotional vulnerability and/or a fear of "letting go."

Female Sexual Arousal

An inability to achieve and progress through the stages of "normal" female arousal. This includes lubrication for women and erections for men.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is aimed at restoring hormone levels affected by age, surgery, or hormone dysfunction to normal, thus restoring sexual function. Estrogen and testosterone levels are measured and treated by endocrinologists.

Hyperactive Sexual Desire

Hyperactive sexual desire has also been called "hypersexuality," "sexual dependency" and "sexual compulsivity. People with hyperactive sexual desire identify with a compulsive or heightened sexual drive. This is a controversial topic and not yet an official diagnosis; however, sex therapy can help people explore motivations underlying this highly sensitive drive.

Kegel Exercise

This specific type of exercise strengthens the pelvic floor muscles which support the uterus, bladder and bowel. Stronger and more supportive muscles can make pregnancy easier, prevent incontinence and pelvic prolapse problems, as well as help orgasm inability concerns.

Sexual Aversion Disorder

An aversion to, avoidance or dismissal of sexual prompts or sexual contact. This could be a lifelong problem related to trauma, abuse or extreme messages learned during childhood.

Sexual Medicine

This field further explores sexual health through the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of conditions or diseases that involve sexual function.

Vaginismus

Involuntary contractions of the muscles surrounding the entrance of the vagina, making penetration impossible and/or painful.

Vulvar Vestibulitis Syndrome

An inflammation condition of the skin and mucous-secreting glands around the opening of the vagina. Symptoms include severe pain with pressure or vaginal entry, burning, stinging, irritation or raw sensations. Some people have the urge to urinate frequently or suddenly.

Vulvodynia

A disorder of vulvar pain, burning and discomfort that interferes with the quality of life. No discernible physical lesion other than perhaps some redness of the vestibule is present. The cause can sometimes be attributed to trauma, but in many other cases its origin is unknown.