frigidity

What is frigidity?

The term frigidity derives from the Latin frigiditas - frigidus, which refers to a (literal) "sexual coldness"; this appellation identifies the absence of heat of the woman, both from the physical, psychological and emotional point of view, in reference to the sexual intimate moment.

The name frigidity has been abandoned by medical terminology because it is considered indisputably derogatory to women:

not surprisingly, the expression "you are frigid" is often used improperly to despise the woman, turning it into an offense of bad sarcasm that almost seems to condemn the woman to resignation in the personal satisfaction and - at a time - of the partner.

Frigidity haunts the woman, who feels frustrated and unable to satisfy her man; in his mind, he matures a sense of unfounded guilt, anxiety and fear that can be reflected in the romantic relationship, worsening it.

However, the sexual difficulties of this type are not all attributable to the fair sex, since the frigidity for the woman corresponds to the impotence in the male: in the woman, the clitoris does not swell and is not excited, just like in the man the member does not reach / maintain an erection. Both in male impotence and in female frigidity the result, although physically different, remains the same: the decline in erotic sensitivity.

Frigidity and anorgasmia

It is customary to make the term frigidity coincide with anorgasmia: the shadow of negative expressions that connotes frigidity is not found in anorgasmia, a condition that is itself problematic and consists in the (only) impossibility and inability to reach its peak of sexual satisfaction.

The term frigidity, however, is commonly misunderstood with anorgasmia: in particular, the intricate male mental mechanisms confuse the two concepts, reducing their complexity.

Frigidity is the result of repeated episodes of anorgasmia, a sort of evolved anorgasmia chronic: therefore, a frigid woman is one who does not indulge in sexual pleasure because she does not feel up to it, she is the one who does not win the inhibitory brakes of sexual act. Still, frigidity coincides with the decline in sexual desire, with the inability to excite, with the lack of initiative and, ultimately, with the impossibility of experiencing orgasm.

Primary frigidity

Frigidity is primary when it occurs already from the beginning of sexual life; it is a rare form, in which the woman has never had any hint of desire, excitement nor, least of all, has reached orgasm. Probably, the primary frigidity is favored by remarkable hormonal oscillations, alterations at the level of chromosomes, past sexual violence, relational disorders and by a lack of sexual education. Generally, primary and total frigidity is reflected by incomplete development; not by chance that women suffering from total frigidity experience a lack of development of secondary sexual attributes, whose appearance should coincide with pubertal development.

Types of frigidity

One speaks of secondary frigidity when this occurs progressively, following a period of partial or total sexual satisfaction.

Situational frigidity arises in some particular conditions, influenced by the partner and / or the environment; "occasional frigidity" means occasional frigidity, which results from causes that are not entirely clear.

Furthermore, frigidity can be induced, that is to say favored by drugs, physical traumas and psychological weaknesses.

Frigidity and related disorders

As mentioned above, the term "frigidity" is exceeded, as it is considered too vague and hazy ; in this regard, the disorders that lie behind the word frigidity have been identified as disorders in themselves : hypoactivity of sexual desire, vaginismus, vulvodynia, anorgasmia, vaginal dryness, anhedonia (inability to perceive pleasure, in all its forms).

Symptoms

There is an ideal scale that identifies the different levels of frigidity:

1. Frigidity is complete if the woman does not feel any sexual desire, has no erotic fantasies and is not able to get excited, despite the attempts of the partner: neither the genital apparatus nor the mentality of the woman react to sexual stimulation. Most often, complete frigidity prevents conception.
2. In almost complete frigidity, the desire is practically absent, but the woman manifests a minimal erotic sensitivity towards her partner.
3. In the next level of frigidity, which involves most of the "frigid" women, there is a moderate sexual desire and an erotic sensibility, albeit barely mentioned.
4. The fourth degree of frigidity outlines a condition in which the woman is sexually involved, presents excitement, but fails to reach the orgasmic shock. In this phase, the woman is improperly defined as frigid, since she experiences sexual pleasure, despite not completing the sexual act.
5. In the two subsequent levels, the patient presents only mild sexual disorders, which certainly cannot be included in the definition of frigidity, since the woman reaches orgasm.

The last three levels of frigidity just listed are reversible, and more often than not only couples therapy solves the problem definitively.

Causes

The etiological factors that affect frigidity are multiple and most of the times the specialist's understanding of the disorder is convoluted and difficult: the patient, in fact, feels frustrated and embarrassed by the problem that afflicts her and tends to hide even from the doctor some of his fears or behaviors that draw from the sexual sphere. Patients suffering from frigidity use verbal expressions such as "perception of nullity", "inadequacy", "guilt", "sexual block", terms that should alarm the specialist at first glance (and the partner, first and foremost).

Couple conflicts, sexual dysfunctions, psychological problems, physical traumas, but also the partner's erotic "defects" represent the most recurrent etiological factors in the manifestation of frigidity.

The body and mind of the woman remain frigidum (cold) when there is no physical and psychological, emotional and mental excitement: the immediate consequences are frustration, disappointment and dissatisfaction, which block any possible attempt at erotic shooting in the bud.

therapies

As we have seen, frigidity sums up a mix of sexual disorders and, as such, can be healed with valid psychological support. The doctor, whether he is a sexologist, gynecologist or general practitioner, must recommend the most appropriate therapy for the patient; nevertheless, the mere therapy of the specialist only rarely manages to resolve the woman's frigidity. Not surprisingly, the figure of the partner plays an essential role, which must be able to help the woman through dialogue and trying to modulate sexual practices in order to refine the understanding.