Did you know that about 50% of couples have concerns or problems with sexual desire, arousal, orgasm, and satisfaction? Do you view your sexual relationship as a source of stress or satisfaction? When in your marriage has intimacy and sexuality been the healthiest, and when has it been the most problematic or dysfunctional?
Sexual satisfaction can be a source of strength in marriage. It can also be a touchy and sensitive point of conflict for over 50% of couples. One reason why this topic is so difficult for some couples to navigate is because they do not recognize some of the complex facets of this sexual meaning making process. The chart below outlines 8 factors that contribute to a person’s sexual-sense-making of this important topic:
What can you do to improve your ability to make sense of your experiences and how to proceed? There are three things you can begin today!
- Educate yourself with specifics of human anatomy and how the sexual response cycle happens from a reliable source (e.g. human sexuality textbook or reliable website)
- You can reflect and write about your own experiences with each of the above 8 topics to better understand how your past and current experiences influence what sex means to you.
- You can create an emotionally safe space where you and your spouse can have an open dialogue around each of the 8 these topics or seek a licensed marriage therapist to get the support that you need to navigate the complexities of sexual meaning-making.
