Potential leads and insights for the management of sexual problems from a disgust perspective

We all seem to experience a degree of disgust toward certain sexual stimuli, such as specific body parts (eg, tip of the penis, vagina) and bodily products (eg, saliva, sweat, ejaculate), when they are encountered out of the sexual context. However, the frequency and intensity of this experience vary among individuals. It is worth noting that sexual arousal, by its nature, tends to inhibit this disgust response to a certain extent. Thus, when sexual arousal is high during a sexual encounter, disgust for sexual stimuli will typically be low. However, if for whatever reason sexual arousal is relatively low, there is more room for disgust to manifest. This may help explain why some may find themselves struggling with heightened disgust responses during sexual encounters, when sexual cues elicit aversion due to restrictive upbringing, past negative sexual encounters or trauma, or a lack of sufficient sexual arousal for one reason or another. Consequently, problems often arise when people experience intense disgust reactions or a feeling of dislike toward sexual stimuli that interferes with their motivation to approach, focus, and cognitively elaborate on the sexual stimuli, thereby hindering their ability to engage in and enjoy sexual activities. Whether stemming from past experiences or a lack of adequate sexual arousal, these issues can significantly affect an individual’s sexual well-being and that of one’s sexual partners.