Post-traumatic stress linked to sexual dysfunction

Even young people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may experience difficulties in enjoying a normal sexual life as they may associate arousal with threat, says a new study.

PTSD develops after a person gets exposed to a terrifying event and people who have PTSD may feel stressed or frightened even when they are no longer in danger.

"It is clear that PTSD is associated with sexual problems, even among relatively young people regardless of the type of trauma they experienced," said study co-author Amy Lehrner from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York.

PTSD-related biological and cognitive processes may contribute to the development of sexual dysfunction following traumatic stress, said the researchers who conducted a literature review pertaining to PTSD and sexual function.

"We need to better understand this relationship and develop new treatments for sexual dysfunction in PTSD that will improve quality of life and promote resilience among trauma survivors," Lehrner noted.

The authors said that trauma exposure can profoundly rupture an individual's sense of safety and the ability to trust and feel connected to others.

The study appeared in The Journal of Sexual Medicine.