Comments and Personal Stories

A Woman's Story: PSAS
I have a condition called persistent sexual arousal syndrome (PSAS), a sexual dysfunction that manifests as sexual arousal that occurs apart from any of the physical or psychological stimuli that trigger normal arousal. As its name suggests, the feeling is, for many women including myself, unrelenting. read more...

Another Woman's Story
It was six years ago to be exact. I remember lying on my couch watching TV when I felt an odd fluttery feeling in my vagina. That day was the beginning of my slow descent into misery. Prior to that day, however, life was fairly good. read more...

Living with Female Sexual Dysfunction
I remember the "first time". I was deeply in love and glad I waited till I was 21 and finally in the arms of the perfect man. He was my hero, a helicopter pilot in Viet Nam, whom I met through correspondence, never imagining that he had grown up only six blocks away from me. He was "the cutest thing going" and I made him "the happiest man east of the Mississippi". read more...

Living with Female Sexual Dysfunction
Based upon numerous magazine articles and surveys, record numbers of women across the country are having more frequent and satisfying sexual encounters than ever before. I am not, on the other hand, among these women. So what is wrong with me? Admitting that you have no desire for sex is not an easy thing to do, even in the enlightened and open age in which we live. read more...

Vaginismus: A Woman’s Story
I first realized I had primary vaginismus about six weeks before I got married. I was idly leafing through a medical dictionary, fell upon a description of vaginismus, and realized that I probably had the condition. My immediate reaction was to inform my fiancé, who told me he wanted to marry me “any way he could get (me).” I then consulted with three other people for a second opinion: first, the church pastor’s wife, who also was in charge of the church counseling program. She largely viewed my vaginismus as the result of some sort of unidentified spiritual curse. We prayed together about things, and I was then referred to another Christian counselor with an international ministry. This lady told me I should get a vibrator and read books such as The Joy of Sex. I was also told to get further Christian counseling. My third consultation was with a sex therapist who was well viewed in the local medical community. None of the three advised against marriage, or suggested delaying it. So, as I thought my vaginismus would be largely dealt with after a month or so of marriage, my fiancé and I went ahead and got married. read more...

A Husband's Story
My wife and I have been married for thirty-four years and we have worked together to raise two wonderful adult daughters. Many people have told us we represent an ideal family, and I consider myself a fortunate man to have such a family. This is the account of my experience of living with female sexual dysfunction and its effect on me. A part of me is reluctant to describe this because my wife is truly one of the kindest and most caring people I know, and I am well aware that other men may have reacted differently in similar circumstances. read more...

A Woman’s Story If I Had Only Known!
I am a 58 year old registered nurse. Although I have not actively practiced nursing at the bedside for many years, I am a strong advocate for living healthy lifestyles, and being compliant with medical care, especially when it comes to preventative care. I also choose good providers of care and put my trust in them. read more...

Persistent Sexual Arousal Syndrome: One Woman’s Experience the name of the author is withheld by her request—TWSHF
We probably all have had at least one experience of not being taken seriously by a physician. I find there is almost nothing more frustrating. read more...