What is Orgasmic Disorder (Anorgasmia)?

By Katrina Fairhurst, LLB, MA

Published on May 6, 2025

We overview the often overlooked condition anorgasmia, an orgasmic disorder where a female is unable to reach climax.

Have you ever been in a state of arousal and felt yourself getting close, only for it to go nowhere? If so, you may have anorgasmia, an orgasmic disorder where the sufferer finds themselves unable to orgasm no matter how turned on they are.

In this article, we will explore what anorgasmia is, its causes and treatments, and why orgasmic disorder is often overlooked in the world of sexual health.

Understanding Orgasmic Disorder

In the medical world, there are different forms of orgasmic disorder that a female may find themselves experiencing. These include persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD), where the person suffering from it feels an almost constant state of arousal, including lubricating and pulsing in their vulva, or pleasure dissociative orgasmic dysfunction (PDOD), where the person finds themselves able to orgasm but feel a diminished pleasure during the act. And finally, there is anorgasmia, which we will discuss today.

Anorgasmia, also known as Coughlan disorder, is defined as infrequent, delayed, or absent orgasms in women and vulva owners. However, it should be recognized that the frequency of orgasms in women can vary due to multiple issues, including stress and anxiety, where they are in the menstruation cycle, and even medication. What sets anorgasmia apart from this is the persistent inability to orgasm over some time.

Studies have found there are two types of this orgasmic disorder. Primary anorgasmia is the condition in which a woman has never achieved an orgasm, which studies have found up to 4-10% of women suffer from, and secondary anorgasmia is the loss of orgasm. The loss of orgasm is more common, with 20-30% of females suffering from it. However, it can also develop as situational anorgasmia, where you can only reach orgasm in specific situations, such as through masturbation.

Causes and Symptoms of Orgasmic Disorder

Delayed orgasm, absence of orgasm, fewer orgasms and even less-intense orgasms can all be symptoms of anorgasmia.

There can be a few different reasons that you may find yourself developing a female orgasm disorder. These include:

Mental Health and Psychological Reasons: trauma, stress, medication and even depression and anxiety can trigger anorgasmia.

Relationships issues: from lack of emotional connection to poor communication and not being sexually compatible.

Health conditions: You may find long-term conditions such as diabetes, overactive bladder or multiple sclerosis can impact orgasm.

Gynaecological treatments: Tissue damage from gynecologic surgeries, such as hysterectomy or cancer surgery, may affect the ability to orgasm.

Medicines: blood pressure, antidepressants, anti-anxiety, antihistamines and antipsychotic medication can inhibit your ability to orgasm.

Alcohol and smoking: Alcohol suppresses the nervous system and may hamper the ability to orgasm. Meanwhile, smoking can limit blood flow to your sexual organs.

Age-related changes to the body: Changes to the body after menopause or later in life may contribute to various types of sexual dysfunction including anorgasmia.

Treatments for Orgasmic Disorder

There are a few things that you can do to help anorgasmia on your own. You can try mindful practices such as sensate focus or meditation to help ease anxiety or stress related to sex. A therapist or clinician may also recommend masturbation, using sex toys and sexual enhancements such as clitoral pumps, and even changing sex positions with your partner to see if this helps you achieve a climax.

For trauma-related and mental health issues that are triggering your anorgasmia, talking with a doctor can be beneficial. Working with a sexual trauma specialist or discussing cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) options are great ways to treat your orgasmic disorder.

For women who have reached menopause, or for those who have a hormone imbalance, your doctor may prescribe your estrogen or testosterone therapy.

Depending on the cause, treatment may take a while to work. For some, changing medication and going to a sexual therapist can alleviate anorgasmia within several months. For others, it may take longer or less time; there is no linear line for treatment to work.

If your chosen course of treatment isn’t working, it may also help to return to the doctor and see if other treatments suit you and your needs.

Why Does Orgasmic Disorder Get Overlooked?

Society still has a long way to go when it comes to fully understanding female sexual health and pleasure. Because of this, orgasmic disorders such as anorgasmia, PGAD and PDOD often get overlooked.

For some time, the female orgasm was often the butt of a joke. Comments about “faking it” or that women just aren’t able to orgasm became the norm. Although not every woman who can’t orgasm has a disorder, societal behaviour could mean those who do are less likely to realise that there is something wrong.

We have only recently, in the past 20 years or so, seen interest being given to the female orgasm, sexual wellness, and understanding the clitoris. This means there is still a huge knowledge gap when it comes to fully understanding sex, pleasure, and sexual disorders like anorgasmia. For instance, symptoms of low testosterone in women, which can cause orgasm disorders, haven’t been studied until recently, meaning that many were being misdiagnosed.

Conclusion

If you have trouble reaching orgasm and this is a persistent problem, it may be time to talk to a doctor or sex therapist and check to see if you have anorgasmia.

Orgasmic disorder is a relatively common issue that many women experience at some point in their lives, especially after menopause. Remember, it does not mean you will never orgasm again. Hormonal treatments, medication, and clitoral stimulation to increase blood flow, as well as working with a sexual therapist or sexologist, can help you overcome any potential psychological blocks you may be having.

As we conclude this article, it is important to understand that, although the female orgasm is often overlooked, struggling to climax is nothing to be ashamed of. Sex should always be about connection, fun and intimacy first, with an orgasm not being the main focus or end goal.

References:

Montgomery K. A. (2008). Sexual desire disorders. Psychiatry (Edgmont (Pa. : Township)), 5(6), 50–55.

Najafabady, M. T., Salmani, Z., & Abedi, P. (2011). Prevalence and related factors for anorgasmia among reproductive aged women in Hesarak, Iran. Clinics (Sao Paulo, Brazil), 66(1), 83–86. https://doi.org/10.1590/s1807-59322011000100015