{"id":42130,"date":"2024-05-02T06:16:07","date_gmt":"2024-05-02T04:16:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lelo.com\/blog\/?p=42130"},"modified":"2024-10-30T05:07:59","modified_gmt":"2024-10-30T04:07:59","slug":"how-to-deal-with-sex-anxiety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lelo.com\/blog\/how-to-deal-with-sex-anxiety\/","title":{"rendered":"Educational Tool for Sexual Anxiety"},"content":{"rendered":"

Low body image and sexual performance anxiety are common, yet unlikely topics of discussion. And not talking about them only adds to these issues.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you experience sexual anxiety and have body image issues know that you’re not alone. <\/span>Around 16% of women and 25% of men<\/span><\/a> experience sexual performance anxiety. <\/span>According to experts<\/span><\/a>, around 90% of women and 20 to 40% of men also report body dissatisfaction.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let’s talk about body confidence, sexual anxiety, how it can affect your sexual satisfaction, and how you can have a great sex life despite it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Relationship Between Body Confidence, Sexual Anxiety, and Sexual Satisfaction<\/span><\/h2>\n

Body Confidence and Sexual Satisfaction<\/span><\/h3>\n

Body image has a huge impact on our day-to-day lives, including sex. People with body confidence issues might feel ashamed of their bodies and avoid undressing in front of their partner, as well as engaging in intimate activities. Or, sometimes people who have low body image might feel like their bodies are not worth protecting, which prompts them to engage in <\/span>reckless sexual activities<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One recent study<\/span><\/a> found that women who are dissatisfied with their bodies assume that their partners are also less attracted to them, despite that being not true. Having these assumptions lowers their relationship and sexual satisfaction.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Not only does poor body image decrease sexual satisfaction for women, but it also negatively impacts their sexual desire, increases sexual avoidance, and decreases sexual assertiveness. <\/span>Men who have a negative relationship with their appearance also report<\/span><\/a> having erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, and avoidance of sexual activities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While sex isn’t everything, it is an important way to experience intimacy for many people. So, not having a satisfying sex life can seriously affect the satisfaction of relationships and even life in general.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sexual Performance Anxiety and Sexual Satisfaction<\/span><\/h3>\n

Sexual performance anxiety can also have a huge impact on our sexual satisfaction. <\/span>The International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM)<\/span><\/a> describes it as “fear, worry, or anxiety related to sexual activity.” All people experience it, but it manifests differently.<\/span><\/p>\n

For women, sexual performance anxiety might include: <\/span><\/p>\n