Ashleigh Gray (Larkin)

IRE #5A
November 13, 2014

Fact or Fiction about Sexual Dysfunction

1. People are inundated with so much information about sex that it is difficult to
separate truth from fiction. Prior to reading the text write about what YOU
believe sexual dysfunction is, how common it is, which of the following can
cause this dysfunction (drugs, arthritis, cancer, MS, CVA, disabilities,
medications, cultural, lack of knowledge, relationship factors, fears, HSD), and
what causes dyspareunia. Allow yourself at least 2 - 4 blank lines between each
statement. Now check the text and correct each of your answers that was not
fact. Write your corrections in the 2- 4 blank lines you have allowed. (You may
develop a chart format).
I believe sexual dysfunction is more common than most people would think.
Some factors that may cause sexual dysfunction are certain medications,
disabilities, and drug use.
Medication can be a huge contributor to sexual functioning, sometimes
asking for a lower dosage and help prevent it (Crooks and Baur 409). People
with disabilities seem to respond to sexual interaction in varying ways. Some
can create a way to work around their disability, and some do not seem to get
their sex drive back (Crooks and Baur 409). Almost every type of drug can
cause sexual dysfunction according to the text (Crooks and Baur 408)
What might be forgotten is that effect that cultural background can have,
especially in a place like Utah where the LDS religion is so prevalent, a husbands
inability to reproduce may affect the sexual functionality of the relationship.
As it states in the text book culture has a huge effect on sexual functionality.
A variety of therapist researchers have reported that religious orthodoxy
that creates guilt about sex by equating it with reproduction is common to
the backgrounds of many sexually troubled people (Crooks and Baur 411)
Stemming from either a lack of knowledge or a previous experience, someone
who is fearful may also experience sexual dysfunction. Especially in the instance
where a male cant get or maintain an erection, that experience can lead to the fear
of it happening again which in turn causes anxiety and it is more likely to happen
again.
Anxiety about an unwanted pregnancy or the fear of contracting a sexually
transmitted infection can interfere with a couples enjoyment. This can also
be true of couples who want to conceive but cannot (Crooks and Baur 418)
Dyspareunia (painful intercourse), I assume can be caused from most of the issues
that cause sexual dysfunction. It could be a mental barrier or possibly something

physical. Im sure there are also instances in which it is medical illness or

genetics.
This disorder happens in men too and can be caused by the foreskin of the
penis being too tight during erection or Peyronies disease. This disorder is
common in women and can be caused by a lack of lubrication or arousal, an
infection or even insufficient hormones (Crooks and Baur 405)
2. Find examples of what the public is being told about sexual dysfunction in the
media, including newspapers, TV shows popular books and magazines. Then
classify the ideas you found into two classifications, fact or fiction.
In commercials or other advertisements for pills such as Enzyte, consumers are
told that these pills will enhance erection quality, arousal and response
(enzyte.com). These pills are bogus and the promises from companies like this are
total fiction. In fact, Enzytes company founder wound up being sentenced to
prison and ordered to pay a huge fine of $93,000 for scamming so many innocent
people who were out looking for a solution (consumerist.com). In television
shows a mans inability to get an erection during sexual activity seems to be the
butt of the joke and a taboo topic to discuss. Males dont want to be inadequate in
fulfilling their partners desires, and females arent really represented much in the
media as having problems with sexual functionality and leads audiences to
believe that its uncommon, this is fiction. The fact is that many men and women
experience sexual difficulties and the more we talk about it, the more comfortable
we will be if we have a partner, or we ourselves are experiencing some form of
sexual dysfunction.

3. In conclusion, write a brief summary of the important things that you now
know about sexual dysfunction.
Sexual dysfunction can be caused by a number of different factors including,
health, age, disabilities, drug use and relationship satisfaction. There are even
more factors than those that exist and cause sexual difficulty depending on the
individual. Even though its not always easy to work these barriers in a
relationship, there are many different ways to combat the negative side effects
that can cause sexual dysfunction and help the quality of the relationship.

Works Cited:
"Be Ready When It Counts with Enzyte." Enzyte 24/7. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2014.
Crooks, Robert, and Karla Baur. Our Sexuality. Redwood City, CA: Benjamin Cummings
Pub., 1990. Print.
Marco, Meg. "Who's Smiling Now? Enzyte Scammer Gets 25 Years In
Prison."Consumerist. N.p., 28 Aug. 2008. Web. 13 Nov. 2014.