What is anorgasmia?
Anorgasmia, or difficulty achieving orgasm, is a relatively common issue among women, affecting about 10-15% of women at some point in their lives.
It can mean taking a long time to reach orgasm, experiencing less intense orgasms, or the absence of orgasms, even with adequate stimulation. In the context of being able to orgasm with penetrative intercourse alone, the number of women experiencing difficulty increases to between 60% and 90%.
This can be frustrating and may lead to emotional distress or dissatisfaction in your sexual relationships.
What causes anorgasmia?
There are many potential causes of female orgasmic disorder (anorgasmia). These include:
- Clitoral adhesions can cause pain and discomfort and contribute to difficulty with sexual arousal and orgasm.
- Hormonal imbalances, particularly low estrogen levels, can occur during menopause or after childbirth.
- Medical conditions like diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord injury.
- Hysterectomy.
- Certain medications, including antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and antipsychotics, are known to affect sexual desire and can interfere with the ability to orgasm.
- Lifestyle factors, such as excessive alcohol use or smoking, can also contribute.
- Relationship issues, like a lack of communication or a lack of emotional intimacy, can make it harder to achieve orgasm.
- Psychological factors, such as stress, anxiety, depression, past sexual trauma, or a history of sexual abuse, can also play a significant role.
How does Tower Urology approach anorgasmia treatment?
If you’re experiencing these issues, we’ll start by taking a detailed medical history, and we’ll also take the time to discuss your sexual history and sexual activity to help us understand your symptoms and any underlying conditions. A physical exam and possibly some laboratory tests can help rule out physical causes, such as hormonal imbalances.
We will also explore whether your medications might contribute to the problem. In some cases, psychotherapy may be recommended, as a couples or sex therapist may be able to offer techniques that might help address relationship dynamics or emotional barriers affecting both your mental health and your sex life.
Is female anorgasmia treatable?
- The good news is that female anorgasmia is very treatable. Female orgasmic disorder treatment options depend on the underlying cause but may include one or more of the following:
- Therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or sex therapy, can help address psychological or relational factors.
- If hormonal imbalances are a factor, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) might be considered.
- Adjusting medications that could be contributing to the issue is another approach.
- Lifestyle changes, such as reducing alcohol intake, quitting smoking, or managing stress, can also have a significant impact.
- Sometimes, using sexual aids like vibrators or practicing sensate focus exercises when practicing self-stimulation (masturbation) or other sexual activity, which focus on intimacy and sensation without pressure to orgasm, can help improve your experience.
Are there medical treatments for anorgasmia?
Yes, there are injections or shots (which generally aren’t fun, but these sure can lead to fun) that we find to be very effective for some women.
There are two different injections we offer at Tower Urology that may improve your ability to orgasm.
The Orgasm Shot, or O-Shot
The first injection we will talk about is called the Orgasm Shot (otherwise known as the O-Shot). This is a non-surgical, minimally invasive procedure designed to enhance sexual function and satisfaction in women. It involves using platelet-rich plasma (PRP) derived from your blood to stimulate tissue regeneration and improve sensitivity in the vaginal and clitoral areas.
Who is a good candidate for the O-Shot?
The O-Shot is primarily suitable for women experiencing various sexual health and urinary concerns. If you experience any of the following, you will make a good candidate for the O-Shot:
- Difficulty achieving orgasm or sexual pleasure
- Decreased sexual sensitivity or low libido
- Vaginal dryness
- Painful intercourse (dyspareunia)
- Clitoral atrophy related to aging
- Minor urinary incontinence
- Stress and urge incontinence symptoms
- Perimenopause
- Lichen sclerosus and lichen planus symptoms
- Chronic pain from episiotomy, vaginal mesh, or surgical scarring
The treatment is suitable for women of all ages, regardless of whether they have been prescribed HRT. Candidates should be in good health and have realistic expectations about the procedure’s outcomes. Tower Urology’s qualified healthcare providers will assess you to determine eligibility for the treatment.
How does the O-Shot work?
The O-Shot is a straightforward two-step process that takes about 30 minutes:
- We draw a small amount of your blood and process it in our in-clinic laboratory to extract the platelet-rich plasma (PRP). PRP is rich in growth factors that promote tissue repair and regeneration.
Since the PRP is derived from your blood, the risk of allergic reactions or side effects is minimal. - We then inject the PRP growth factor we spun down from your blood back into your clitoris and vagina to stimulate blood flow, enhance sensitivity, and improve overall sexual function.
What generally happens after the O-Shot?
Firstly, there is little to no downtime, and most women can resume normal activities immediately.
While we encourage these activities to include some time in the bedroom, the effects usually take a few weeks to be noticed. The maximum benefits are typically observed around 2-3 months. The effects can last up to a year or more, and repeat injections are safe to administer.
Many women report increased sensitivity, stronger orgasms, and improved sexual excitement. The O-Shot can also help with vaginal atrophy and vaginal dryness and discomfort, making intercourse more comfortable. It can even alleviate mild stress urinary incontinence by strengthening pelvic tissues.
The O-Shot uses the body’s natural healing mechanisms to safely and effectively enhance sensitivity, pleasure, and comfort.
The G-Spot Amplification, or G-Shot
The second shot is called G-Spot Amplification, or the “G-Shot.” This is a non-surgical procedure designed to enhance sexual pleasure by increasing the size and sensitivity of the G-spot, a sensitive area located on the front wall of the vagina.
This procedure is often sought by women who want to improve their sexual needs or address concerns related to sexual satisfaction in a non-surgical way.
Who are good candidates for the G-Shot?
Ideal candidates are women who want to improve the likelihood, frequency, or intensity of achieving G-spot orgasms. This procedure can also help women (or their partners) who have a difficult time locating or stimulating their G-spot.
The G-Shot is most suitable for sexually active women who are sexually active with normal sexual function and, specifically:
- Experience and enjoy G-spot stimulation.
- Have normal sexual function.
- Are seeking to enhance their current sexual satisfaction.
Who is the G-Shot not suitable for?
The G-Shot would be considered unsuitable for the following:
- Women who don’t enjoy G-spot stimulation, as the procedure won’t change this preference.
- Those with a history of sexual dysfunction.
- Women whose primary method of orgasm doesn’t involve vaginal stimulation.
How does the G-Shot work?
This shot uses hyaluronic acid (like that used for facial fillers) to bulk up the G-spot area to increase its size and prominence, making G-spot orgasm more likely. The procedure takes 15-30 minutes to use a local anesthetic in the office.
Most women can resume normal activities immediately, though some may experience mild swelling or discomfort for a short time. The effects of G-Spot Amplification are typically noticeable immediately and can last for several months to over a year, depending on the individual.
If, for any reason, the results are not to your satisfaction, the filler is dissolvable.
What generally happens after the G-Shot?
Many women report increased sensitivity and more intense orgasms after the procedure. Amplifying the G-spot can help women feel more confident about their sexual experiences.
Los Angeles’s Tower Urology: The best anorgasmia treatment near you
If you’re struggling with orgasm issues, it’s essential to know that you’re not alone. There are many ways we can work together to address this sensitively.
We will discuss your symptoms and create a treatment plan that’s tailored to your needs so you can improve your sexual health and overall well-being. We believe it’s time to take back your orgasm, girl!
Tower Urology’s advantage lies in our unwavering commitment to providing world-class urologic care through advanced technology, personalized treatment plans, and a patient-centered approach. With a reputation for excellence and innovation, we deliver superior outcomes that distinguish us as leaders in urologic health.
Tower Urology is a proud affiliate of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, ranked #1 in California and #2 nationwide by U.S. News & World Report. This partnership reflects our dedication to delivering the highest standard of urologic care alongside the best urologists in Los Angeles. Our years of experience and access to Cedars-Sinai’s world-class facilities ensure that our exceptional and innovative urological care positions Tower Urology as a leader in Southern California.
We invite you to establish a care plan with Tower Urology.
Tower Urology is conveniently located for patients throughout Southern California and the Los Angeles area, including Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, West Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Culver City, Hollywood, Venice, Marina del Rey, and Downtown Los Angeles.
Our services include treatment for pelvic organ prolapse, menopause/hormone management, chronic pelvic pain syndrome in women, shockwave therapy for pelvic pain, interstitial cystitis, lichen sclerosis and planus, urethral diverticulum, urethral stricture disease, urinary fistulas, and vaginal mesh complications.
Anorgasmia FAQs
Besides the new O-Shot and G-Shot options, some other approaches have helped some women, and they include:
- Bupropion (Wellbutrin) has shown some benefits for orgasmic dysfunction.
- Sildenafil (Viagra) may help, particularly for women taking SSRI antidepressants.
- Scream Cream is a prescription compound applied topically to increase blood flow.
- FDA-approved intensity devices (such as Emsella and iStem) provide pelvic muscle and clitoral stimulation.
- The Eros device uses gentle vacuum stimulation to increase blood flow.
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which might include estrogen for vaginal health and testosterone for some menopausal women, can
help combat anorgasmia.
The difficulty in achieving orgasm after menopause is primarily due to hormonal and physical changes. These include:
-
- Declining estrogen levels significantly impact sexual function by:
- Reducing blood flow to the vagina and clitoris, resulting in decreased sensitivity.
- Altering nerve function and slowing clitoral reaction time.
- Diminishing natural vaginal lubrication and secretion.
- Declining estrogen levels significantly impact sexual function by:
- Thinning and drying of vaginal tissues leading to discomfort during intercourse.
- Weakened pelvic floor muscles can reduce orgasm intensity.
- Decreased genital blood flow response can reduce sexual arousal.
- Certain medications, particularly antihypertensives, antidepressants (especially SSRIs), and antihistamines, can interfere with sexual response.
- Chronic health conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease may impair blood flow and nerve function.
- Gynecological surgeries or treatments can affect orgasmic capacity.
We are not stating by any means that these changes mean orgasms are impossible after menopause. That would patently not be true. However, some of us may require more intense sexual stimulation and different approaches to orgasm after menopause.
Sources
The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI): A Multidimensional Self-Report Instrument for the Assessment of Female Sexual Function
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/009262300278597
Delayed Orgasm and Anorgasmia
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4816679/
Women’s Experiences With Genital Touching, Sexual Pleasure, and Orgasm: Results From a U.S. Probability Sample of Women Ages 18 to 94
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28678639/
Assessment & management of sexual problems in women
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2121642/
