Sexual Aversion Disorder

The essential feature of Sexual Aversion Disorder is the aversion to and active avoidance of genital sexual contact with a sexual partner.

The disturbance must cause marked distress or interpersonal difficulty. The dysfunction is not better accounted for by another Axis I disorder (except another Sexual Dysfunction).

The individual reports anxiety, fear, or disgust when confronted by a sexual opportunity with a partner. The aversion to genital contact may be focused on a particular aspect of sexual experience (e.g., genital secretions, vaginal penetration). Some individuals experience generalized revulsion to all sexual stimuli, including kissing and touching. The intensity of the individual's reaction when exposed to the aversive stimulus may range from moderate anxiety and lack of pleasure to extreme psychological distress.

Subtypes

Subtypes are provided to indicate the onset, context, and etiological factors associated with the Sexual Dysfunctions.

Lifelong: This subtype applies if the sexual dysfunction has been present since the onset of sexual functioning.

Acquired: This subtype applies if the sexual dysfunction develops only after a period of normal functioning.

Generalized Type: This subtype applies if the sexual dysfunction develops only after a period of normal functioning.

Situational Type: This subtype applies if the sexual dysfunction is limited to certain types of stimulation, situations, or partners.

Due to Psychological Factors: This subtype applies when psychological factors are judged to have the major role in the onset, severity, exacerbation, or maintenance of the Sexual Dysfunction, and general medical conditions and substances play no role in the etiology of the Sexual Dysfunction.

Due to Combined Factors:

This subtype applies when 1) psychological factors are judged to have a role in the onset, severity, exacerbation, or maintenance of the Sexual Dysfunction; and 2) a general medical condition or substance use is also judged to be contributory but is not sufficient to account for the Sexual Dysfunction.

If sexual dysfunction is attributed solely to substance abuse or a medical cause, Sexual Dysfunction Due to a General Medical and/or Substance-Induced Sexual Dysfunction is diagnosed.

Associated Features

When confronted with a sexual situation, some individuals with severe Sexual Aversion Disorder may experience with extreme anxiety, feelings of terror, faintness, nausea, palpitations, dizziness, and breathing difficulties.

Course

A majority of young males learn to delay orgasm with sexual experience and aging, but some continue to ejaculate prematurely and may seek help for the disorder. Some males are able to delay ejaculation in a long-term relationship but experience a recurrence of Premature Ejaculation when they have a new partner.

Some males who have stopped regular use of alcohol may develop Premature Ejaculation because they relied on their drinking to delay orgasm instead of learning behavioral strategies.

Diagnostic criteria summarized from:

American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, fourth edition. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.