Having pleasurable sexual intercourses plays a major role in marital life satisfaction. Many of the medical and psychiatric disorders may affect the sexual function. Dissatisfaction of the couples in this respect may have the root of various physical, mental, and social problems. Also, many of the medical and psychiatric disorders may affect the sexual function of the patients.

According to the definitions available in the most reliable classifications of World Health Organization (WHO, sexual dysfunction implies sexual response cycle dysfunction in sexual desire, arousal and resolution, and orgasm during sexual intercourse in such a way that the individual is deprived of a desired sexual intercourse. The continuity of this deficiency existing in most cases of sexual intercourse leads to obvious discomforts in sufferers and their interpersonal relationships with their sex partners.

Mental health impairment is a significant risk factor for male/female sexual dysfunction, an often-overlooked concern in the primary care setting. The careful assessment and diagnosis of sexual dysfunction in male/female with a psychiatric illness is necessary, and management must be in keeping with the patient’s preferences and must maintain a patient focus rather than a disease focus.

Sexual dysfunction is common in people with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. It is known to affect all domains of sexual function, including desire, arousal, erection, ejaculation, and orgasm, and despite being known to be a major cause of poor quality of life and non-adherence to medication, it is generally underestimated, often neglected, and poorly managed. So far, sexual dysfunction has been largely attributed to the deleterious effect of antipsychotic medication, although recent data suggest that it may be a consequence of the disease itself and may also be related to symptom severity.

Sexual dysfunction in women has not received the same attention as male sexual dysfunction. Very few evidence-based options, pharmacological and nonpharmacological, are available for women in comparison with options for men. The most common risk factor for female sexual dysfunction is psychiatric illness, such as depression, anxiety, and psychosis. However, it’s not clear which may precipitate the other. What is clear is that there is a higher risk of comorbidity with female sexual dysfunction and psychiatric mood disorders. Sexual disorders in women, are categorized in three areas: lack of sexual interest/arousal, female orgasmic disorder, and genitopelvic pain/penetration disorder.

NOTE : Those using psychiatric drugs, for instance anti-psychotics, anti-depressants, and hypnotics in particular, have complained about the higher rate of sexual dysfunction.