For this special post on sex in marriage I watched one of the best reviewed movies of this year (Rotten Tomatoes score of 86%): ‘Orgasm, Inc’. This is a funny, moving, and profound documentary by filmmaker Liz Cannon. It tells the story of how the pharmaceutical industry is racing to invent the pill, spray, or cream to treat Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD), and the secret behind it all: Female Sexual Dysfunction doesn’t really exist.
FSD is loosely defined as difficulty with arousal, orgasm, or sexual desire. The term didn’t exist until around ten years ago when drug companies began to explore the idea of marketing the incredibly successful erectile dysfunction medications such as Viagra to women. The film clames that FSD was invented as part of a trend in “medicalizing more and more of ordinary life” because ”there’s a lot of money being made in telling healthy people they’re sick.” The industry is purposely redefining difficulty as dysfunction in order to sell a product.
The concept of FSD preys on women’s insecurities and misunderstandings about women’s sexuality. With men it’s relatively easy to gauge when climax has been reached. With women, it’s much more complicated—enjoyable sex doesn’t always end in orgasm; arousal involves emotions and situation more than just visuals or stimulation (of course, both these things can hold true for men, too!). Unfortunately, the “average” male interpretation of sexual satisfaction is often held up as the norm for both partners. This leaves women feeling inadequate or that there is something wrong with them for not enjoying sex in marriage and achieving orgasm in the same way. The truth is, the vast majority of sexually healthy women cannot achieve orgasm through regular intercourse alone. It’s just our biology.
Most of women’s sex in marriage problems cannot be solved with a pill, patch, or cream. There are some exceptions—hormonal imbalances caused by endocrine system problems or medications (such as the birth control pill) cause lapsed sexual desire; women who have had hysterectomies; women with other diseases that decrease energy levels. For these women, certain medications and other treatments can be helpful in rebalancing the body’s natural sexual systems.
At the same time, many more women suffer from problematic sex in marriage because of psychological issues. 1 in 6 women will experience sexual assault in her lifetime, leading to a complicated and difficult relationship with sexual intimacy. 80% of women have body image issues and may feel too self-conscious to feel and enjoy any pleasure. And lastly, while sex in marriage is a blessed and celebrated act in all religions, negative information about sexuality that is presented during youth can leave husbands and wives with complicated feelings of guilt and shame for enjoying sex. Not to mention that many women are never educated on the anatomy of their sexual organs.
Lastly, the problem can be pure exhaustion. Many women are holding down jobs while taking care of several children and a household. Women do on average 3 times more housework than men. After a long day of being poked and prodded by little ones, running around and attending to other’s needs and being physically active, the last thing you want is to be touched sexually. You want to go to bed!
Here are some key tips for improving sex in marriage:
1) De-stress
Stress releases adrenaline and other hormones into your body that zap you into “fight or flight” mode and drain energy from other systems including your sex drive. Reduce the stress on your body by following the CODE: practice Calming activities such as meditation, yoga or prayer; get Organized; follow a healthy Diet; and Exercise.
2) Talk about it
Whether it’s a specialized sex therapist or a special session with your marriage counselor, talk to a mental health professional about your problems. There will be many things to discover about yourself in one-on-one sessions, and mutual things to work through with your spouse in group sessions. Talking with a trusted friend or finding an online discussion forum may also help.
3) Get Educated
If you feel lost or confused about your body and desires, there are many female oriented pleasure stores around the country that are friendly, tasteful and encouraging places to lean about your sexuality. Good Vibrations is one of the most well known chains. There are also many faith-oriented blogs, marriage help books and websites that celebrate sex in marriage along with religion. I recommend The Pure Bed and Hot Holy Humorous.
I also highly encourage you to see ‘Orgasm, Inc’. It’s available streaming on Netflix. It’s a cheeky little film and deals frankly and humorously with sex, so be prepared. There is no sexually graphic imagery. This movie will make you think very differently about your sexuality and the role medication plays in our lives.
There is an amazing new documentary coming out March 30th titled “Bully.” This film has the potential to reach both children and adults in a profound way. School administrators are considering screening it in middle and high schools across the country, and you can watch the trailer below. Recently, the film has hit a major road bump: the MPAA has given it an R rating. This means that no children under 17 can see it without a parent and it will not be allowed to be shown at schools. As far as I can tell, the movie was just one vote short of being approved as PG-13, and the objection was rough language used by some of the bullies. The producers appealed the decision and it was denied again.
