Treatment of secondary orgasmic dysfunction: a comparison of systematic desensitization and sex therapy

Forty-eight couples complaining of secondary orgasmic dysfunction were randomly allocated to one of three treatment methods or to a control group. Sexual function, sexual anxiety and satisfaction with the total relationship were evaluated in a pretest, an intermediate test (after 12 therapeutic sessions) and a follow-up test. The intermediate test revealed significant improvement in the sexual function of women treated by systematic desensitization, and that of women and men treated by an adapted version of the Masters and Johnson method. The follow-up test showed significant improvement in women and men treated by desensitization. Both methods significantly improved the satisfaction with the total relationship in men and women, and desensitization significantly reduced sexual anxiety in men and women. The results of combined treatment —desensitization followed by treatment according to Masters and Johnson—were very poor. The control group showed no significant changes. Evaluation of the differences between the treatments revealed a near-significant difference in sexual function of women in the intermediate test, with desensitization and the Masters and Johnson method yielding better results than combined treatment or no treatment.