Sexual and Gender Identity Disorder - Research Paper Example

Sexual and Gender Identity Disorder Psychology According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, sexual and gender disorders can be classified into seven categories: 1. Gender Identity disorder: Individuals with this disorder have a sense of discomfort with their own gender and tend to associate or perceive themselves as members of the opposite sex. This refers to a powerful and persistent identification of oneself with the opposite sex; it doesn’t include minor desires for benefits associated with the other sex.

The patient also experiences persistent discomfort with his/her gender role. 2. Orgasmic Disorder: This is further subdivided into Female, Male Orgasmic disorder and premature ejaculation. Females or Males with orgasmic disorders experience a delay or absence of orgasms. In women, stimulation intensities that trigger orgasms vary and this should be taken into account. Males who suffer from premature ejaculation, experience orgasms long before the expected time. This can even be immediately after penetration. 3. Paraphilias: This is a disorder whereby an individual experiences sexual urges and stimulation from non human objects.

This is further subdivided into Exhibitionism, Voyeurism, Coprophilia, Fetishism, Sexual Sadism, Frotteurism, and Sexual Masochism. 4. Sexual arousal desires: This involves an individual who experiences delay or absence in sexual arousal. In males this is known as erectile dysfunction. This involves a man’s inability to maintain an erection. This condition causes marked self distress. 5. Sexual desire disorders: This is further subdivided into Female arousal disorders, Hypoactive Sexual disorders and Sexual Aversion disorders.

Females are unable to secrete the adequate amount of lubrication during sexual intercourse. Hypoactive desire refers to the absence of sexual desire. 6. Sexual dysfunction due to a general medical condition: This is a disorder where there is evidence that a medical condition is the cause of disruption in sexual functions. 7. Sexual Pain Disorders: This is divided into Dyspaeunia and Vaginismus. The former causes genital pain during after and at times before intercourse. The latter refers to the involuntary contraction of perineal muscles.

Sexual function is a process regulated, mediated and initiated by a series of physiological and biological interactions. Each partner’s life experience, the shared and common experience of the couple and interaction patterns between the couple are attributes of the physiological aspect of sexual function. Malfunction of these physiological features could result in sexual dysfunction. The social settings which surround an individual can also trigger sexual disorders. Poor interpersonal relations between couples and members of the society can induce negative emotions, such as anxiety and depression which may result in sexual dysfunction.

Hormones play a major role in mediating normal physiology in the body. Different sexes have different hormonal balance, for example, testosterone is in higher quantities in men whilst estrogen and progesterone are more in women. Genetic defects can cause alteration of these hormones, resulting in level of female hormones rising in men. This can lead to genetic identity disorder as the hormonal activities in an individual will generate emotions experienced by the opposite sex.