It is not unusual for the woman with female sexual arousal disorder to have almost no sense of sexual arousal. Often, these women experience pain with intercourse and avoid sexual contact with their partner. Chronically or recurrently, the patient cannot lubricate enough to complete the sexual activity. Except for another Sexual Dysfunction, no other Axis I disorder explains it better. It causes marked distress or interpersonal problems.
Some disorders have similar or even the same symptoms.
It also may be associated with specific settings, situations and relationships or generally present in all sexual settings. It may be due to psychological factors or a combination of psychological and physical factors. It is characterized by inability to attain or maintain adequate physical response to sexual excitement. It is considered a disorder when it causes distress or interpersonal conflict, and it must be differentiated from other psychological problems for which it may be simply a symptom rather than the primary problem. Contrary to popular belief, a lack of lubrication is not always caused from a failure to be aroused.