Name of Concept
Female Orgasmic Disorder
Synonyms
Anorgasmia*
Introduction
The female orgasm has been a focus of medical and psychological science for decades. However, despite sustained interest in the topic, researchers have found it difficult to precisely define female orgasm. Unlike male orgasm, which typically involves observable ejaculation of semen, there is no definitive physical or psychological marker of female orgasm. This ambiguity has led the World Health Organization to define female orgasm using a combination of typical physiological signs (e.g., involuntary rhythmic contractions of the pelvic muscles and subsequent reduction in blood flow to the vagina), along with commonly reported subjective experiences (e.g., intense pleasure and altered state of consciousness; Meston et al. 2004). Although these phenomena are the most reliable indicators available, none are universally reported by all women during orgasm, highlighting the idiosyncratic nature of the phenomenon.
Orgas...
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Stephenson, K.R., Kerth, J., Truong, L., Meston, C.M. (2019). Female Orgasmic Disorder in Couple and Family Therapy. In: Lebow, J.L., Chambers, A.L., Breunlin, D.C. (eds) Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49425-8_458
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49425-8_458
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