Sexual fantasy and activity patterns of females with inhibited sexual desire versus normal controls

Abstract

Until recent years, female sexual fantasy was generally associated with psychopathology or negative qualities. Sexual fantasy is now regarded by the cognitive-behavioral schools as a normal occurrence serving adaptive functions. No investigation has been made comparing the sexual fantasy and activity patterns of women with a specific sexual dysfunction and women with a satisfactory sexual adjustment. This study compared responses to a fantasy questionnaire completed by 30 women reporting a satisfying sex life and 25 women who came to a sexual dysfunction clinic with a complaint of inhibited sexual desire. This study confirms that females with inhibited sexual desire fantasize less during foreplay, coitus, masturbation and general daydreaming than the controls. The content of fantasies in both groups is similar. The females with inhibited sexual desire do not masturbate less often and do not have fewer orgasms through masturbation than the controls. The females with inhibited sexual desire have fewer orgasms through intercourse alone.