The Etiological Aspects of Sexual Dysfunction - Research Paper Example

? Sexual Dysfunction Sexual Dysfunction Introduction Sexual dysfunction in both male and female gender identities is as a result of multiple etiological factors such as psychological, biological, behavioral and genetic elements (Zakhari, 2009). In this sense, many investigators and researchers have demonstrated increased interest in the study of the etiological aspects of sexual dysfunction as a basis of assessment, diagnosis and management of the various forms of sexual dysfunction among individuals. These investigations include empirical studies which present results that have significant implications on clinical practice and future studies on the topic. This research paper presents a critical and comprehensive analysis of five empirical studies on the various etiological elements of sexual dysfunction. The paper reviews these studies in relation to their purpose or aims, methodology, data analysis and the findings that are presented by the researchers including the implications of these findings in clinical practice and future studies on etiological aspects of sexual dysfunction. Literature Review An empirical study conducted by Al-Azzawi, et al (2010), focused on sexual dysfunction within the female gender identity. The report of the study demonstrates an agreement that sexual dysfunction among women is etiologically as a result of multidimensional factors or problems. According to these investigators, a combination of biological, interpersonal and psychological elements among female participants is attributed to various forms of sexual dysfunctions. These researchers however focused on the biological element of sexual dysfunction among women. In their empirical studies, the investigators found out that sexual dysfunction among women is biologically relate to menopause. Therefore postmenopausal sexual dysfunction among women should be understood from the biological etiological factor as a basis for treatment. This is because this form of sexual dysfunction is described by the researchers as non-irreversible unless therapeutic measures are employed or implemented (Al-Azzawi, et al, 2010). The empirical study by Al-Azzawi, et al (2010) was achieved through an experimental approach. The researchers based their experiments on the ICD-10 and DSM-IV classifications of disorders of sexual function among women. Even though the researchers focused more on the therapeutic aspect of the postmenopausal sexual dysfunction among women, they reached a conclusion on effective treatment through an analysis of the biological factor in the etiology of this form of dysfunction. The empirical study came up with comprehensive etiological aspects of various forms of sexual dysfunction among women. Sexual desire disorders among women such as Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) were directly linked to menopausal element in their etiology. In addition, the investigators found out that Sexual arousal disorders, orgasmic disorders and sexual pain disorders were directly linked to menopause (Al-Azzawi, et al, 2010). The biological etiological factor for these disorders is related to hormonal changes which are associated with menopause. It is in this regard that the therapy for postmenopausal disorder is illustrated within this empirical study as effective through hormonal therapeutic approaches. Apantaku-Olajide, Gibbons and Higgins (2011) conducted an empirical study on sexual dysfunction that is etiologically related to drug use or substance abuse. The objective of this empirical study was to explore and investigate sexual dysfunction among adults who had mental health problems and a problem with drugs. The investigators demonstrate extensively the etiological aspect of the sexual dysfunction among the study subjects with an aim of showing how these patients reacted to psychotropic medications for their mental and substance abuse problems which were etiologically linked with their sexual dysfunction. According to these researchers, sexual dysfunction is a significant problem within the population because it is estimated to affect 32% and 23% of women and men respectively (Apantaku-Olajide, Gibbons & Higgins, 2011). The researchers were convinced that abuse of drugs, mental illness and attitudes towards psychotropic treatment among patients was related to the high incidence of the sexual dysfunction among adults. It is in this regard that the researchers were motivated to conduct this study. A cross sectional study approach or methodology was employed by these investigators. Through questionnaires as data collection tools for the study, the investigators gathered adequate data and information on the experience of the study subjects with psychotropic treatments and its implication on their sexual functioning. The study employed statistical data analysis with the SPSS tool to determine the role of substance abuse, mental health and attitudes towards psychotropic treatment in sexual dysfunction among adult participants. According to the findings of the study, 53.1% of participants reported that they had problems with their sexual function (Apantaku-Olajide, Gibbons & Higgins, 2011). These 12.5% of the participants attributed their sexual function problem with the use of psychotropic drugs. 6.3% of the respondents on the other hand attributed their sexual function problem with drug abuse (Apantaku-Olajide, Gibbons & Higgins, 2011). In this regard therefore, mental illnesses and the drugs prescribed to patients are demonstrated to be significant etiological factors for sexual dysfunction among adults. More importantly the abuse of various drugs significantly contributed to problems that adults have with their sexual functions. An empirical investigation by Jern, et al., (2009) disclosed a genetic etiological factor for ejaculatory sexual dysfunction among men. The study of these investigators was motivated by the fact that regardless of the implementation of theoretical approaches in the understanding of men’s dysfunction with ejaculation, there were no conclusive investigations or experiments which had been conducted to determine the genetic etiology of both delayed ejaculation (DE) and premature ejaculation (PE). Since the investigators were convinced of the role of genetics in sexual dysfunction on ejaculation among men, they conducted an empirical study on this disorder through an experimental methodology. The genetic component of the study was achieved through the participation of male twins and their close relatives in the study based on the information that they had given on their experiences with ejaculation. In the determination of the sexual function of the participants, questionnaires were presented to them with ten questions which enabled the investigators to determine various aspects of ejaculatory function such as frequency, number of thrusts, latency time and subjective experience. The analysis of the findings by the investigators was based on the genetic factor determination and how it defined this sexual dysfunction problem among men. Through a Confirmatory factor analyses; the investigators revealed that there was a significant genetic effect on premature and delayed ejaculation among men (Jern, et al., 2009). The investigators related their findings with past investigations and experiments on the neurological aspects of ejaculatory problem among men. These analyses led to a conclusion that there is a convincing need to identify specific polymorphisms and genes which are associated with delayed and premature ejaculation among men (Jern, et al., 2009). The researchers therefore confirmed a genetic factor as one of the etiological explanations for the sexual l dysfunction among men. In this regard, the investigators were able to illustrate implications of their findings for futures studies and investigators or experiments. An empirical investigation by McKay, A. (2005) was aimed at determining the role of drug abuse and the sexuality of individuals in sexual dysfunction disorders. The investigator presents his study reports in a comprehensive manner through a demonstration of updates on sex research findings by various researchers in the past. This update provided an authentic basis within which the researcher conducted his empirical investigation. The Three Phase Model in Sexual Response was employed by the researcher so that the impact of alcohol or substance abuse and the sexuality of an individual could be comprehensively studied and reported in line with the three phases of human sexual response. The drug use as an etiological factor in sexual dysfunction was investigated by the researcher and expressed logically in terms of the various drugs of abuse such as alcohol, crystal meth, marijuana, cocaine and tobacco. The findings of the researcher reveled that across culture of the world, sexuality and the use of recreational drug use are intertwined aspects of human existence. It is in line with this that various drugs have been described to be promoters, facilitators or inhibitors of sexual behaviors among individuals (McKay, 2005). Therefore the researcher found it appropriate to investigate the interrelationship between drug use and abuse as an etiology to sexual dysfunction and the sexuality of individuals. The central observations of the study include the fact that tobacco use is related to the short term positive effect of sexual function among individuals. This is related to the role of the stimulant effect of tobacco to enhance the sexual phases of the sexual experience. However, the study reveals that long term use of tobacco or smoking causes a significant risk of men to have erectile dysfunction (McKay, 2005). The investigation also revealed that sexual behavior and alcohol use are significantly linked sexuality especially in the western population. McKay (2005) in his study reveals that even though small amounts of alcohol when consumed causes an immediate or short term enhancement of sexual response and activity, consumption of more alcohol significantly decreases the psychological ability of an individual to respond to sexual activity. This demonstrates that alcohol consumption is one of the etiological factors in the sexual dysfunction among individuals which is explainable in line with the three phases of sexual response and behavior. The effects of drug use on the sexual response of an individual are generally described as short term enhancement or stimulation of sexual response and inhibition with an increase of the quantity of drugs taken (McKay, 2005). Nicolaou (2012) presents a report of his empirical investigation on sexual dysfunction among individuals with schizophrenia. The empirical study of this investigator was based on the observation of the common sexual dysfunction among individuals with schizophrenia which was often overlooked by researchers and clinical practitioners. In this regard, the investigation of this researcher was aimed at determining clearly the correlation which existed between sexual dysfunction among male and female patients with schizophrenia and the use of antipsychotic drugs. Therefore the empirical investigation was based on the assumption that antipsychotic drugs were responsible for the common occurrence of sexual dysfunction among individuals affected by schizophrenia. A secondary research methodology was employed by the researcher in this study which revealed self reports of psychiatrists in the process of managing sexual dysfunction. These reports revealed that antipsychotic drugs played a major role in causing sexual dysfunction among patients with schizophrenia (Nicolaou, 2012). In addition to self reporting, the empirical study found out that assessment tools such as self rating tools are effective in determining how the use of psychotic drugs impacted on the sexual function of patients with schizophrenia. The researcher presents this as an implication for future studies on the problem and how it would be solved. The results of the empirical study disclosed that antipsychotic drugs such as Quetiapine, Haloperidol, Olanzapine and Risperidone are etiological factors to the development of sexual dysfunction among patients with mental disorders. The study therefore points out the various implications that these drugs causes in the quality of the patients’ life apart from the therapeutic benefits. More specifically the researcher depicts that effect of the etiological aspect of psychotic drugs in sexual dysfunction on the concordance of clinical practice and the relationship between patients and clinicians in the processes of health care. These implications include the role of clinicians to assess the sexual function of patients before commencing treatments and during the process of treatment (Nicolaou, 2012). Conclusion In light of the above analyses and discussion of empirical studies of the past, it is conclusive that psychological, biological, genotypic, behavioral and therapeutic factors are among the major etiological elements of sexual dysfunction among male and female gender identities. The psychological aspects of sexual dysfunction are understood in line with the processes of the human sexual response and the associated phases. In addition, the psychological factor in sexual dysfunction is described in line with psychotic disorders and the therapeutic implications of anti psychotic medications on the sexual function of patients. The genetic makeup of an individual has also been associated to the sexual dysfunction among individuals through studies among twins and close relatives after a presentation of their sexual functions. More notably though is the biological aspect in etiological understanding of sexual dysfunction such as the role of hormones and disease in decreased sexual dysfunction. The behavioral factors such as the use and abuse of various drugs are also linked to sexual dysfunction as defined by the fact that excessive use of drugs of has been proven to have a negative implication on sexual response. References Al-Azzawi, F. F., et al., (2010). Therapeutic Options for Postmenopausal Female Sexual Dysfunction. Climacteric, 13(2), 103-120 Apantaku-Olajide, T., Gibbons, P., & Higgins, A. (2011). Drug-induced sexual dysfunction and mental health patients' attitude to psychotropic medications. Sexual & Relationship Therapy, 26(2), 145-155. Jern, P. P., et al., (2009). Evidence for a genetic etiology to ejaculatory dysfunction. International Journal of Impotence Research, 21(1), 62-67 McKay, A. (2005). Sexuality and Substance Use: The Impact Of Tobacco, Alcohol, And Selected Recreational Drugs On Sexual Function. Canadian Journal Of Human Sexuality, 14(1/2), 41-56. Nicolaou, L. (2012). Sexual dysfunction in people with schizophrenia. Mental Health Practice, 15(10), 20-24. Zakhari, R. (2009). Female sexual dysfunction: A primary care perspective. Journal Of The American Academy Of Nurse Practitioners, 21(9), 498-505 Read More