Anorgasmia is the failure for women to reach orgasm. Unfortunately 10% to 40% of women have difficulty reaching that climatic moment during intercourse. This term is used for women who are medically unable to climax and for women who are unable due to other means. The majority of anorgasmia cases are caused by psychological, social, cultural, or relationship variables. Anorgasmia can be treated through sexual therapy but before one goes to a therapist a gynecologist should evaluate them. 

Anorgasmia is broken into three categories: primary, secondary, and situational. Primary means that a woman has never been able to reach orgasm. Secondary anorgasmia represents women who at one time were able to reach climax but can no longer. Situational anorgasmia is described as women who can reach orgasm in one situation but not in others. For example, a woman can achieve orgasm in the "doggy" position but can not in any other position or can orgasm through masturbation but can't with penile stimulation. 

There have been many proposed causes of anorgasmia, but all seem to be ambiguous or inconclusive. A major factor could be that women grow up being told that touching yourself is bad, dirty, sex is duty, and sex can only be done after marriage and other prohibitions. Because of these discouragements only 35% of women are orgasmic by the age of 18 while the figure for men is closer to 90%.  Self-esteem and self-confidence are another factor. If you do not feel comfortable with your body, then you won't feel comfortable with other people seeing or touching your body. Other causes can include an unpleasant experience, rape, incest, painful intercourse, which may be due to vaginal infection, inadequate love play or pleasuring, or related to a deteriorating relationship. Another cause that perhaps most women experience, frustration, the anticipation for it overwhelms the sensations. Perhaps your partner is not hitting the right spot or getting the correct rhythm, this leads to anxiety which can deaden the feeling faster than a phone call. 

Anorgasmia is treated as a complex problem caused by many different factors. The first step a therapist goes through is sexual counseling for the couple. Anorgasmia shouldn't be seen as solely the problem of the female - there are variables when a partner is involved. They begin with sex education and are taught the mechanisms of female arousal. They are shown the difference between male and female responses. A suggestion for couples that do not wish to go to therapy is to sit down alone, dim the lights, get comfortable and talk about sex. The discussion should cover what they think is arousing, perhaps any sexual dreams they may have had recently and then move into what they think about sex.  Are you comfortable having sex in the day or with the lights on? Are you afraid to make noises because someone could hear you - even if no one is around? The thought is that this communication can open up the inhibitors that reside within the female mind. By talking and discussing this issue with their life-mate and companion it should help ease their fears or the uncomfortable feelings with intimacy. 

There are some therapeutic techniques that women and couples are told to perform. Females are told to do Kegel exercises, the clenching of the vaginal muscles. Kegel's get blood flow to the perineum and that could increase sensitivity. Kegel's are also beneficial to squeeze the penis, sometimes by having your partner remain still and squeeze the penis with the muscles can increase sensitivity to bring about orgasm (it is also quite nice for the partner). Women are also told to masturbate, feel themselves and simply enjoy the expeience.