Unwanted Sexual Events and Female Sexuality

Sexual violence against women is universally perpetrated. Unwanted sexual events have been associated with long-term consequences on female sexuality including sexual distress, low sexual desire, arousal disorders, orgasm disturbances, sexual pain disorders, low sexual satisfaction, and also hypersexuality and sexual risk behaviors. This chapter aims at reviewing historical and current evidence on clinical assessment methods, psychosexual consequences of USE according to the timing of occurrence, the different sexual domains affected, and the proposed psychological and biological mechanisms linking sexual violence with female sexual dysfunction. A specific focus on body image disturbances and eating disorders comorbidity will be included. Finally, principle of intervention strategies for sexual dysfunctions in USE survivors will be delineated.