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Sexual difficulties encountered by women

Not reaching orgasm

Many women experience orgasm for the first time through masturbation. To learn more about this, see a sexual counsellor.

Vaginal dryness

This can be due to side-effects from medication. Check with your doctor about this. Lubricants can help with vaginal dryness and are available from the supermarket or the chemist. Look out for some of the newer water-based lubricants, that include fruit extracts and don’t get as sticky as some of the old water-based lubricants (eg. K-Y jelly)

Painful intercourse

Painful intercourse is sometimes, but not always, related to vaginal dryness. See a doctor or a sexual health counsellor for this problem.

Self-help books

These can be bought or borrowed from a library. Becoming orgasmic: A sexual and personal growth program for women by J.R. Heiman and J. LoPiccolo (Simon Schuster Australia, Sydney, 1988) is a useful book for women with orgasmic difficulties.

Menstruation

Many women find that after an injury, their menstrual cycle may stop for a while (eg. 4 – 6 months) and then starts again.

Some women may need assistance in using tampons due to cognitive problems, such as impaired planning, or physical problems, such as reduced fine motor skills or range of movement of the arm. Family members or carers may need to be trained to assist the women to address this area of her self-care.

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