IS FRIGIDITY CURABLE?

by Lida Prypchan

When I think of frigidity I am reminded of a French writer more well-known for her love affairs with great men of her century than for her literary pursuits. I am referring to George Sand, the Frenchwoman who adopted a man’s name, dressed like a man and smoked like a man. Also a revolutionary who worked with Napoleon Bonaparte, she was famous as Chopin’s lover, who went to bed at seven in the morning after working around the clock on her writing – and after watering her plants.

Maurois wrote an extraordinary biography of this woman, calling it Lélia ou la vie de George Sand. According to Maurois Lélia was Sand’s best novel. It dealt with a matter very personal to her: frigidity. She recounts in detail the trauma of the first sexual episode in her life when, at nineteen, she married a man she had always loathed.

Frigidity is the female counterpart of psychogenic impotence. It is common, but frequently escapes the doctor’s attention because it interferes less with marital relations and more often than not is accepted by patients as the normal expression of a less than passionate personality.

There are many causes. Among them we have: 1) masturbation in adolescence – supported by some authors, rejected by others. According to the first group it is a combination of narcissism and self-sufficiency: the subject would become accustomed to certain sensations, certain forms of pleasure. According to the second group, masturbation for the woman is a form of experimentation whereby she discovers what an orgasm is. To the first theory we should add that masturbation tends to accustom the woman to clitoral orgasm. 2) Some aspects of an ethical nature, for example, the case of single women who have sexual relations out of curiosity or peer pressure. 3) An inept husband can offend a newly-wed and her disgust can give rise to frigidity.

Vaginismus, whether or not accompanied by painful sensations during the sexual act, is a result of fear and disgust. This is frequently a reaction to marital conflicts, for example, an excessive number of quarrels, an alcoholic husband or an unfaithful one.

Psychotherapy associated with reassurance, and the suggestion and practical advice to breathe deeply and quietly during the sexual act is helpful in some cases of minor apprehension. In other cases a more complete investigation is suggested. In some instances, delayed orgasm caused by the woman’s requirement for long sexual build-up, or by the short duration of the act, can be confused with frigidity. It would be wise to advise the subjects to concentrate more on foreplay. Disturbance of the female orgasm may be due to an erection of very short duration or to fear of orgasm. Fear can be connected with loss of sphincter control, which is generally the result of the fear of losing control of oneself during orgasm, as is the case with hysterical patients and those with a domineering personality.

In most cases of frigidity, it is not possible to study and completely correct the situation because patients are reluctant to devote the necessary time to treatment, which is a pity, since treatment for psychogenic impotence and frigidity is not only interesting but also achieves good results. Hypnosis can be used successfully with impressionable patients and helps modify their attitude toward the sexual act and sexual activity in general.