Sexual performance anxiety is a significant problem that negatively affects the quality of sexual life. Many people experience anxiety before sexual intercourse, thinking that they will not be able to provide a good or sufficient performance. This anxiety disorder is more common in men than in women. This anxiety is observed more intensely, especially in individuals experiencing erectile dysfunction or similar functional problems.
Sexual performance anxiety is among the most common sexual problems on a global scale. Some studies show that sexual performance anxiety is encountered in 9-25 percent of men and 6 to 16 percent of women. When sexual performance anxiety occurs before sex, it makes a healthy sexual union nearly impossible. Men experiencing this concern have difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection. If left untreated, this problem can bring other sexual dysfunctions along with it. Private Yaşam Center, serving its patients in Adana, explained for you what sexual performance anxiety is and how it can be overcome.
Symptoms and Signs of Sexual Performance Anxiety
In men experiencing sexual performance anxiety:
- Decreased interest in sexual intercourse
- Premature ejaculation during sex
- Inability to achieve or maintain an erection
- Symptoms such as difficulties with orgasm are observed.
The symptoms of sexual performance anxiety seen in women can be listed as:
- Vaginal dryness
- Arousal problems
- Pain felt during intercourse.
What are the Causes and Risk Factors of Sexual Performance Anxiety?
Sexual performance anxiety is an extremely complex problem. It cannot be directly associated with genetic factors. However, it is still thought that some genetic factors are effective in sexual performance anxiety, sexual health, and sexual desire. In addition to this, the biological and psychological reasons effective in the development of sexual performance anxiety are as follows:
- Weak self-perception and dissatisfaction with body image
- Disconnection of the emotional bond between partners
- Psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety disorder
- Lack of sexual experience
- Stress
- Negative sexual experiences and traumatic experiences lived in the past
- Excessive consumption of pornographic content
Sexual performance anxiety sometimes feeds itself and turns into a vicious cycle. The person feeling anxious and worried before sexual intercourse can cause them to feel greater concern if they could not show sufficient performance in the next sexual activity.
How is Sexual Performance Anxiety Diagnosed?
Sexual performance concern can sometimes be misdiagnosed and receive a diagnosis of erectile dysfunction. However, although performance anxiety can lead to erectile dysfunction, these two problems are two completely different conditions from each other. Most of the time, the feeling of shame brought by sexual dysfunction can make it difficult for people to seek professional medical help.
In order to diagnose performance anxiety, other medical conditions that would negatively affect sexual performance must be examined and ruled out.
What are the Treatment Methods for Sexual Performance Anxiety?
The treatment method to be applied against this problem is shaped according to the underlying cause of the issue. However, treatment is generally provided through psychotherapy and medication applications. Some medications used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction can be beneficial for men experiencing sexual performance anxiety.
How to Manage Sexual Performance Anxiety?
While struggling with sexual performance anxiety, it is first necessary to eliminate the feeling of shame. Not having an ideal sexual life is not something to be ashamed of. It is normal to experience these anxieties, especially when with a new sexual partner. As the problems in the emotional relationship are resolved, performance concern may also disappear over time.
People experiencing performance anxiety may develop a false belief that they are inadequate. In such cases, it is necessary to focus not on how sufficient your performance is, but on yourself and your partner enjoying the moment. Some measures you can take to manage your anxiety are as follows:
- Meditation
- Focusing on the moment
- Masturbation
- Accepting that not every sexual encounter will be perfect
- Being slow and not rushing
- Reducing the stress factors in your life
- Meeting with an expert therapist
What is the Prevalence and Distribution of Sexual Performance Anxiety?
Research conducted on this subject from 2000 to 2018 reveals that men experience this problem at a rate of nine to twenty-five percent. Sexual performance concern is generally associated with symptoms of erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation.
Although it is less in women compared to men, it is seen that between 6-16 percent of women experience this problem. Underlying the anxieties in women is usually low sexual drive.
In Conclusion
You may feel anxious during some periods throughout your sexual life, and this situation causes serious damage to your quality of life. Sexual performance anxiety can occur for more than one reason. Therefore, the underlying cause of the anxiety must be correctly identified.
One of the mistakes made regarding sexual performance anxiety is the unconscious use of medication. When erection medications are used without a doctor's recommendation, they create symptoms such as headache, dizziness, vision loss, indigestion, and nausea. Therefore, medication should not be used without a doctor's advice. Otherwise, such side effects may reinforce the existing anxiety and turn the sexual encounter into an anxious experience rather than an enjoyable one.
