The term frigidity is a term that refers, in common parlance, to an absence or decrease in pleasure during sex or sometimes sexual dissatisfaction.

In this context, frigidity can therefore correspond to:

• no orgasm, or anorgasmia
• a lack of sexual desire (we speak of hypoactive sexual desire disorder), anaphrodisia or decreased libido.

There are of course several “degrees” and various manifestations of frigidity, ranging from the total absence of sensations during sexual intercourse, to the apparent contradiction between the intensity of desire and the poverty of physical sensations, including pleasure. “Normal” but not leading to orgasm¹.

The term frigidity is traditionally used to describe a female disorder, although the absence of sexual pleasure or desire can also apply to men. It is no longer used by doctors, because of its pejorative connotation and a lack of precise definition.

This sheet will therefore be devoted more specifically to theanorgasmia in women, the lack of desire being treated in the sheet low libido.

Anorgasmia also exists in men, but it is rarer².

We can first of all distinguish:

• anorgasmia primary : the woman has never had an orgasm.
• anorgasmia secondary or acquired: the woman has already had orgasms, but no longer.

We can also differentiate :

• Total anorgasmia: the woman never has an orgasm by masturbation, nor in a relationship, and no orgasm triggered by clitoral or vaginal stimulation.
• couple anorgasmia where the woman can achieve orgasms on her own, but not in the presence of her partner.
• coital anorgasmia: the woman does not have an orgasm during the back and forth movements of the penis in the vagina, but she can obtain orgasms by clitoral stimulation alone or with her partner.

Finally, anorgasmia can be systematic or occur only in certain situations: we speak of situational anorgasmia.

Who is affected?

The clitoral orgasm is known to more than 90% of women, even if it is not necessarily systematic at the beginning of their sexual life and requires a time of discovery for women who have not practiced masturbation before their first relationship. sexual.

Vaginal orgasm is rarer, as only about a third of women experience it. It is triggered by the only back and forth movements of the penis. Another third of women get a so-called vaginal orgasm only if their clitoris is stimulated at the same time. And a third of women never experience vaginal orgasm.

In other words, the organ of female orgasm is the clitoris, much more than the vagina.

We know that on average, women have an orgasm once in two during sex knowing that some are “polyorgasmic” (about 10% of women) and can chain several orgasms, while others have more rarely. , without necessarily feeling frustrated. Indeed, pleasure is not synonymous with orgasm.

Orgasm disorders could affect a quarter of women⁴, but there are few large epidemiological studies documenting the situation.

One of them, the PRESIDE study, conducted by questionnaire in the United States with more than 30 women, estimated the prevalence of orgasm disorders at about 000%.⁵.

Secondary anorgasmia would however be much more frequent than primary anorgasmia, which affects 5 to 10% of women⁶.

More generally, sexuality disorders affect around 40% of women. They include poor vaginal lubrication, discomfort and pain during intercourse, decreased desire and difficulty reaching orgasm.⁷.

Causes

The physiological and psychological mechanisms that trigger orgasm are complex and still far from being fully understood.

The causes of anorgasmia are therefore also complex. The ability of a woman to reach orgasm depends in particular on her age, her level of education, her religion, her personality and her relationship situation.⁸.

At the beginning of sexual life, it is perfectly normal not to achieve an orgasm, sexual functioning requiring a period of learning and adaptation that is sometimes relatively long.

Several factors can then come into play and alter this capacity, in particular⁹ :

• The knowledge that a woman has of her own body,
• The partner’s sexual experience and skills,
• A history of sexual trauma (rape, incest, etc.)
• Depressive or anxiety disorders
• Drug or alcohol use
• Taking certain medications (including antidepressants or antipsychotics which can delay orgasm)
• Cultural or religious beliefs surrounding sex (guilt, “dirt”, etc.).
• Relationship difficulties
• An underlying disease (spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, etc.)
• Certain periods of life, accompanied by hormonal upheavals, in particular the pregnancy and menopause.

However, pregnancy, especially during the second trimester, can also be very favorable to female sexuality and in particular to orgasm. This moment is sometimes called “the honeymoon of pregnancy” and it is known that some women experience their first orgasm during pregnancy, often in the second trimester.

Course and possible complications

Anorgasmia is not a disease in itself. It is a functional disorder that only becomes problematic if it is a source of embarrassment, discomfort or distress for the person complaining about it or for his partner.

Women who complain of anorgasmia can develop depression and anxiety. This is why it is important to talk about it, especially as solutions exist.