| ICD-11HA02.0 | ANORGASMIAAnorgasmia |
| ICD-10F52.3 | Orgasmic dysfunction |
| DSM-5-TRF52.31 / F52.32 | Female Orgasmic Disorder / Delayed Ejaculation |
1. Definition and nosology
Anorgasmia (ICD-11: HA02.0 Anorgasmia; DSM-5-TR Female Orgasmic Disorder F52.31 in women; Delayed Ejaculation F52.32 in men) — persistent difficulty, delay, or absence of reaching orgasm after sufficient sexual arousal; or reduced intensity of orgasm.
Duration ≥ 6 months; situational or generalized; lifelong or acquired.
2. History
- Masters & Johnson (1970) — classic description of orgasmic phase disorder.
- ISSWSH and ISSM guidelines.
3. Epidemiology
- Women experience clinically significant anorgasmia in 5–10% of cases; men experience delayed ejaculation in 1–4%.
- 30–70% sexual side effects with antidepressant (SSRI) use.
4. Aetiology and pathogenesis
- Medication-related (SSRI, antipsychotic, opioid).
- Neurological (pelvic surgery, MS, diabetic neuropathy).
- Endocrine (hypothyroidism, hyperprolactinemia).
- Psychological — anxiety, trauma, knowledge deficiency.
- Age and hormonal changes.
5. Clinical features
- Difficulty or absence of achieving orgasm.
- Decreased intensity of orgasm.
- Distress, avoidance.
6. Diagnosis
6.1 Unified diagnostic criteria (DSM-5-TR)
A. Delay, absence, or reduced intensity of orgasm following sufficient sexual arousal — in all or almost all instances (75–100%).
B. Duration ≥ 6 months.
C. Distress.
6.2 Source-specific clarifications
- ISSM Delayed Ejaculation Guideline.
- ISSWSH — orgasm dysfunction in women.
6.3 Diagnostic algorithm
- Clinical interview (sexual history, orgasm with masturbation, orgasm with partner).
- FSFI (in women) / IIEF (in men).
- Medication and comorbidity analysis.
- Endocrine (testosterone, prolactin, thyroid).
6.4 Differential diagnosis
| Condition | Distinguishing feature |
|---|---|
| HSDD (HA00) | Decreased desire dominant. |
| Retrograde ejaculation | Orgasm present, ejaculate into bladder. |
| SSRI-induced | Medication-related timing. |
| ED (HA01) | Erectile disorder. |
7. Examination and assessment
- FSFI, IIEF.
- Hormonal panel.
- Neurological and urologic (acquired suspicion).
8. Treatment
- Etiological approach — management of medication, endocrine, neurological causes.
- SSRI-induced anorgasmia:
- Medication switch — bupropion, mirtazapine, vortioxetine alternative;
- Dose reduction; drug holiday (with caution in SSRIs);
- Bupropion adjunct;
- Sildenafil adjunct in women for SSRI-induced dysfunction — Nurnberg JAMA 2008 RCT.
- Psychotherapy and behavior — orgasm-oriented therapy (Heiman & LoPiccolo); CBT, mindfulness (Brotto L.A.).
- Directed masturbation training in women — directed masturbation; vibrator.
- Delayed Ejaculation in males — psychotherapy, modification of masturbation pattern; no specific FDA-approved pharmacotherapy.
- Hormonal therapy only in confirmed deficiency.
Source-specific specifications
- Nurnberg H.G. et al. JAMA 2008 — sildenafil in SSRI-induced female sexual dysfunction.
- Brotto L.A. mindfulness studies.
Treatment methods
- Bupropion — As adjunct or switch in SSRI-induced anorgasmia.
- Directed Masturbation — Heiman & LoPiccolo program; effective for primary anorgasmia in women.
- Mindfulness-CBT — Brotto research; in female sexual dysfunction.
- Sildenafil in Women (off-label) — In SSRI-induced dysfunction, Nurnberg JAMA 2008.
9. Prognosis
For women, directed masturbation yields 60–90% efficacy for primary anorgasmia; in SSRI-induced cases, pharmacological strategies provide improvement.
10. Myths and misconceptions
Myth 1: “Women must achieve orgasm through penetration”
Evidence: Most women (~70%) require clitoral stimulation; orgasm with only penetration is normal variation, not anatomical norm.
Myth 2: “Anorgasmia is a sign of ‘frigidity’ in women”
Evidence: Anorgasmia often related to knowledge, technique, anxiety, or medication; not a character trait.
Myth 3: “SSRI-induced anorgasmia is transient, requires no treatment”
Evidence: Chronic; pharmacological interventions or adjunctive strategies are effective; ongoing distress is clinically significant.
Myth 4: “Over-the-counter ‘orgasm enhancers’ are effective”
Evidence: Evidence weak; FDA warnings hidden component.
Myth 5: “Vibrator use deprives the patient of orgasm with a partner”
Evidence: On the contrary, it is effective in training for primary anorgasmia; can be integrated into intimate relationship with partner.
11. Sources
- WHO. ICD-11. HA02.0 Anorgasmia. 2024.
- APA. DSM-5-TR. 2022.
- Nurnberg H.G. et al. Sildenafil treatment of women with antidepressant-associated sexual dysfunction. JAMA 2008;300(4):395–404.
- Brotto L.A. et al. Psychological and Interpersonal Dimensions of Sexual Function and Dysfunction. J Sex Med 2016;13(4):538–571.
- Heiman J.R., LoPiccolo J. Becoming Orgasmic. Prentice Hall, 1988.