Table 2.

Female sexual dysfunctions and CBT.

Female Sexual Dysfunction	CBT Aims	Possible Components of the CBT	CBT Effects
Female Orgasmic Disorder	-To promote changes in attitudes and thoughts -To reduce anxiety -To increase orgasmic ability and sexual satisfaction	-Sex education -Cognitive restructuring -Systematic desensitization -Sensate focus -Communication training -Kegel exercises -Directed masturbation	-Higher likelihood to experience orgasm by masturbation and/or with coitus
Female Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder	-To increase rewarding experiences to promote motivations for engaging in sexual activity -To approach other aspects of female sexual functioning, such as arousal response and lubrication, ability to experience orgasm, or reduction of pain -To improve skills of erotic stimulation -To improve couples’ relationships	-Sex education -Cognitive restructuring -Tools from sensate focus therapy or sex therapy -Communication exercises -Emotional communication skills training -Sexual fantasy training -Orgasm consistency training	-Decreased symptoms of the disorder -Improvements in cognitive, behavioral, and marital functioning -Greater sexual satisfaction
Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder	-To focus on pain and sexuality -To achieve pain control in sexual contexts -To reduce catastrophic fear of pain -To (re)establish satisfying sexual functioning -To reduce muscle contraction in the pelvic floor -To promote lubrication during sexual intercourse	-Sex education -Progressive muscle relaxation -Abdominal breathing -Kegel exercises -Vaginal dilatation -Distraction techniques including focusing on sexual imagery -Rehearsal of coping self-statements -Communication skills training -Cognitive restructuring -Systematic desensitization	-Reduced pain during intercourse -Improved sexual functioning -Reduced fear of coitus and avoidance behavior -Reduced negative penetration beliefs

CBT: Cognitive behavioral therapy.