ABSTRACT
Sexual health cannot be detached from mental health. Both are inextricably bound to quality of life and relational satisfaction. While vital to our overall well-being, these facets of health continue to share societal stigma, perpetuating misinformation and deterring from effective treatment. In a society that remains mostly silent with these clinical areas, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition ( DSM-5 ; American Psychiatric Association) (APA, 2013) continues to function as a voice for defi ning and studying their infl uence. Sexual dysfunctions, including disorders of arousal, desire, penetration pain, and orgasm, appear within the manual. These diagnoses of sexual functioning are certainly infl uenced by and infl uence other illnesses commonly treated by mental health and substance abuse professionals.
