It is well-established that a person’s mental health can have a significant impact on their sexual health. As such, mental health conditions such as depression and ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) may be closely related to sexual health conditions like female orgasmic disorder, but the interplay among the conditions can sometimes be difficult to sort out.

Female orgasmic disorder is when a woman frequently or consistently cannot have an orgasm. This affects about 5% to 28.5% of women and can be due to factors like medication, stress, age, menopause, relationships, and various health issues. Depression and ADHD are two mental health conditions that can also interfere with a woman’s sexual health.

Women with depression and/or ADHD may face challenges in their sex lives, including problems with arousal and achieving orgasm. Additionally, women with ADHD might struggle with self-esteem, engage in casual sex, or have difficulties maintaining relationships. To add clarity to this complex topic, a new study aimed to explore how depression and ADHD together impact women’s ability to reach orgasm, as there is limited research on this specific connection.

The authors of the study involved 107 adult women (18+ years of age) with female orgasmic disorder and 114 women without any sexual dysfunction, all registered at the Institute of Human Sexuality, Autonomous University of Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic. Data were collected through patient records and personal interviews, focusing on sociodemographic information and sexual life details.

ADHD diagnoses were obtained from medical records, and all participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory II to assess depression symptoms and severity. After collecting all the necessary data, the researchers used statistical tests to compare the multiple variables and assess the risk of ADHD and/or depression in women with female orgasmic disorder.

The average age of the women included in the study was about 31 years. The two groups, the women with female orgasmic disorder and those without any sexual dysfunction, were similar in age and other characteristics. Most of the women were married, highly educated, Dominican, and a mix of Catholic, Evangelical, and Atheist. Both groups mostly had heterosexual relationships.

In the end, the study revealed some interesting findings. First, the authors found that women with female orgasmic disorder were more likely to have penetrative sex and masturbate compared to the control group. Second, about 35% of women with female orgasmic disorder had ADHD, compared to 18% in the control group. Lastly, women with female orgasmic disorder also showed higher levels of severe depression (16% vs. 3%).

Specifically, the study found that ADHD, severe depression, and a focus on penetrative sex were significant risk factors for female orgasmic disorder. In fact, the analysis showed that women with ADHD were almost five times more likely to have female orgasmic disorder.

These findings align with previous research showing that cognitive processes and mental disorders like ADHD and depression can negatively impact sexual function. Additionally, while a high rate of sexual abuse was noted among participants, it was not a significant risk factor for female orgasmic disorder in this study. Ultimately, the research highlights the complexity of orgasmic experiences in women and underscores the significant role of mental health in sexual function. These insights may have important implications for sexual education, prevention, and treatment of sexual disorders in women.

References:

• Alarcon-Rodriguez, R., García-Álvarez, R., Fadul-Calderon, R., Romero-del Rey, R., Requena-Mullor, M., Read Tejada, M., & Garcia-Gonzalez, J. (2024). The relationship between female orgasmic disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and depression in Dominican women. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 21(7), 614-619. https://doi.org/10.1093/jsxmed/qdae048