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Female Sexual Function


Overview of a visceral approach to Female Sexual Function & Dysfunction

It is cited in many texts and clinical literature that an appalling number of women are unable to achieve orgasm (anorgasmia) or have difficulty achieving full orgasm (dysorgasmia).  This number is typified as lying in the region of 30-40%.  Many brush this away as not being important,.. a bit like someone who has food might think that food is not too important,.. go without it for a while and see how you feel about it then! Many non-physical factors can be at the root of anorgasmia or dysorgasmia – emotional, dietary, general health etc., but there are also a great number of physical factors that may be in play.

Common physical reasons for orgasm dysfunction

There are a multitude of physical reasons that anorgasmia and dysorgasmia occurs.  Most common in my clinical observations is post-traumatic displacement or mal-placement of the pelvic organs triggering a symptom cascade which commonly results in the clitoris not being allowed to project beyond its protective sheath effectively.  Remote visceral causes are often linked to the placement of the liver and sigmoid colon, both of which eventually can prevent clitoral descent.

Other factors that often accompany reduced sensitivity and sexual orgasm typically centre around child birth, both natural and caesarean child birth. Injury can also be a significant factor, with the injurious incident often well documented, but the treatment of that damage far less that satisfactory.

Exposing the Myth – Some women just can’t

A far too often cited myth is that it is normal for some women to simply be unable to achieve orgasm.  This is utter patriarchal, totally fabricated hooey!  Except for very rare abnormal anatomical or developmental problems, there is NO reason that a woman can not achieve orgasm.

A few caveats before we get too carried away here

We do need to also mention the very real seduction elements, the foreplay etc that gets a woman’s mind into the game, so to speak.  A very interesting fact is that physiologically, a woman typically achieves physical arousal far more quickly than a male.  As this is far less ‘obvious’ than it is for the male, many times this physical response goes un-noticed (why Viagra does not work for women).

From here on, we will assume that the woman we are talking about is developmentally normal, in a fulfilling relationship and has a sufficiently skilled lover.

Physical mechanisms of anorgasmia

I will stick to the common term, “anorgasmia” despite the fact that it is much more correctly called, “dysorgasmia”.  Dys meaning incorrect.

Anorgasmia (lack of the ability to orgasm) is most commonly treated through external visceral manipulation of the pelvic organs.  The reason this is so powerful is two fold.

One – the sheath that protects the ultra-sensitive clitoris is purpose built and very effective.  If the clitoris is unable to project beyond the protective sheath, there is simply no way that full sensation will happen.  Everything will be muted!  This is often the case where a woman can orgasm, but it takes a lot of pressure or time.

Two – discomfort and pain.  If the vagina is being subjected to mal-positioning, from whatever source, direct or indirect, discomfort and pain may result during any form or sexual arousal, much less activity. This is far more common that generally thought of.  If the uterus is not in its correct position, the cervix can not be either.  This literally means one wall of the vagina is going to be in a state of distension.  One ‘bump’ into this section and you have just found the “off switch”.  Naturally, physical stress on the vaginal wall can effect significantly lubrication too.

How visceral manipulation can help

(Note: Please also refer to the article on Visceral Manipulation to gain a greater understanding here.)

Using long lever techniques, pelvic organs’ relative positions and placement can be helped into a state of far greater ease.  Most commonly worked upon structures are the ligaments that position the uterus, uterine tubes, bladder and other structures of the pelvis.  Often a far remote trigger can be in play and correction of that trigger is a significant part of correcting orgasmic dysfunction.

Naturally, such misalignments can also drastically effect fertility and thankfully, these same factors in most cases respond well to visceral manipulation.  It is interesting that in many cases I have observed these two factors, infertility and anorgasmia, found concurrently.

A number of structures directly and indirectly effect a ligament that suspends the clitoris and permits clitoral descent during natural arousal.  These are often tied directly into the function of the muscular structures of the lower abdomen and peritoneum.  Dysfunction in these regions is more typically addressed using a combination of short and long lever techniques.

How is anorgasmia treated in practice?

The first thing to state categorically is that NO internal work is ever done in Ashmore Health Centre.  Not only is it illegal, it is un-necessary.  Clients are typically fully clothed and when hands are positioned, clients are often invited to check what is happening directly as well as having the goals of each movement described in as much detail as they desire.

Most of the time, you will feel a very specific set of pressures applied to different structures through the abdomen and be asked to move in a very specific way to facilitate the actual release.

Most women are VERY surprised at how little the techniques even seem to intrude upon their modesty, even if they’ve had this style of work in the past.  We are not working on the mechanisms of arousal, we are working on the structures that are preventing correct response to that arousal.  Like all of Visceral Manipulation, techniques are done sparingly and relatively quickly with quite long interim periods, typically two or more weeks between visits.

Sometimes a woman will be asked to come in at roughly the same time of her cycle to address a particular problem.  This is more the exception than the normal though.

Practitioner’s note

In many ways, I find that working with a woman so that she and her partner can both enjoy a full and rewarding sex life one of the more satisfying aspects of practice.  There is something special about seeing a couple becoming more of a couple because they are able to share more fully together.  I have received flowers from both sides of a couple in a few cases and that always brings a smile to the face!