Health Matters: Expert Makes Case For Sexual Dysfunction

FRANCIS EZEDIUNO

The issue of sexual dysfunction has again been brought to the fore as one of the causes of problem in relationships and a major cause of breaking down of marriages.

Sexual dysfunction is when a man or a woman shows negative aversion to sex, sexual intercourse or any acts that has to do with sex.

Stating the case, Dr. Victor Nwabudike noted that sexual dysfunction in both man and woman could stem from various factors which, over the years could develop into an inhibiting factor in the sexual performances of the person.

According to him, this malaise does not differentiate between man and woman but a quick expression of it depends on the gender involved and how expressive the person or partner is in the relationship.

He noted that sexual dysfunction may arise as a result of rape and sexual violence in woman, taboos, traditions and culture, female genital mutilation otherwise referred to as female circumcision, religious beliefs and others.

In his words: “Most women develop aversion to sex as a result of fear or hatred for men. This may result after nasty experiences from rape and sexual violence.

“After this experience, you find most women have fear for men and if not properly treated this may have permanent damage later in the future.

“What most ladies experience after a rape incident is not really easy and this is because they are ladies and also the weaker sex. There is the fear of stigmatization, ostracization and shame. There is also the fear that it is a male dominated world and nobody would care to listen to their own side of the story.

“If most of them recover from this, the scar may follow them into marriage or other relationships that is if they did not end up committing suicide along the way”.

Another cause of sexual dysfunction is taboos, traditions and superstitious cultural practices which have been handed down through generations.

Dr. Nwabudike stressed the need for such to be done away with through proper education and enlightenment in schools.

“Sex education and proper peer education training should be made compulsory right from junior secondary schools both for the female and male students so that they would understand that there is no taboo in sex and sexual affair. Sex has long been placed under the shadow of taboos and superstitions and there is need to break from it because the world has moved far from what we are still practicing”.

He lamented that the society and religious bodies was not helping issues by placing certain limitations on sexual affairs and they preach erroneously that sexual activities should only be engaged in for procreative purposes and not for relaxation and enjoyment.

“There is need to break the strangle hold of erroneous religious doctrines when it comes to sex. I don’t see why a particular religious doctrine would prescribe sex for procreation alone. Sex is more than that. Sex should be for procreation, enjoyment, relaxation, companionship and exploration too.

“Nothing stops me and my partner from exploring ourselves fully during sex and nothing says that anytime we have sex, it should be to make babies.

“So after making all the babies, does that mean that sexual relations between a man and a woman should come to an abrupt end? It is absolutely ridiculous”.

Female Genital Mutilation otherwise known as female circumcision is another area that affects sexual functionality in women that government needs to seriously look into according to the physician because it involves cutting off the clitoris which is like the female penis.

“Seriously, female circumcision is another area which the society has overlooked and we in the medical profession think the government should look into.

“When you cut off the only part of the vagina that makes a woman to enjoy coitus and you expect that woman not to be promiscuous is virtually impossible. The clitoris function like the penis of a man and it also gets turgid when sexually excited”.

For the male, Nwabudike explained, habits and life style goes a long way in affecting sexual performance.

He revealed that habits like smoking, drinking, drug and narcotics addiction are major factors that affect the sexual performances of most men unknowingly to them.

He noted that if it did not affect them earlier, it was bound to do so much later in life and hardly can they escape it but they would not reveal to an expert in that field because the society is so secretive, adding that they will rather engage in more drug and alcohol addiction with the hope of solving the problem.

“Homosexuality and injuries sustained from accidents are also causes of sexual dysfunction. For most parts, some injuries sustained from accidents may be permanent and irreversible and this also affects sex and its performance”.