MELBOURNE: A survey has found though rates of sexual desire were similar to those shown in international studies, over 50 per cent of Australian women have more problems with arousal and orgasm.
"All up we found 55 per cent of women had a difficulty with sexual satisfaction. It seems women go into the bedroom and expect it will happen quickly, automatically, with orgasm, even be multi-orgasmic, but without spending time to do so.
"They're busy and stressed and not taking the time for their sexual expression," the 'News.com.au' portal reported, quoting lead researcher Professor Marita McCabe of Deakin University as saying.
The online survey questioned more than 400 women about their sex lives and sexual feelings, and found 65 per cent had some form of sexual dysfunction.
Half had a diagnosable sexual desire disorder, said Prof McCabe. In fact, anxiety and depression were found to be contributing factors, but stress and poor body image had the biggest influence on sexual interest and response.
Prof McCabe said the results could help women feel that they are not alone, and that they can seek help.
Jane Ussher, a women's health psychologist at the University of Western Sydney, said while she did not dispute the statistics, to label a quarter of the Australian population sexually dysfunctional was "not helpful".
"To talk about dysfunction implies some abnormality within the women. And whilst many women do have issues around sexual desire, especially in heterosexual relationships, that is very likely to be about the relationship rather than the woman herself," Prof Ussher said.
