Describe the problems evident in diagnosing sexual dysfunctions.

Many issues exist that create challenges for diagnosticians evaluating sexual disorders. For one, it is often very difficult to determine what is normal as opposed to what is abnormal. Frequency of behaviour may not be the most important variable in determining whether behaviour is abnormal, since individuals may seek help and be diagnosed even if the majority of the population suffered from the disorder. Reliable diagnoses of satisfaction with present functioning are difficult to obtain, since deciding whether behaviour is persistent, delayed, minimal, or deficient are subjective judgments. Also, some people with sexual difficulties are not dissatisfied. In order for a sexual disorder to be diagnosed, DSM-5 requires distress to be experienced. This criterion is problematic because many paraphilic disorders cause distress to the victim but not the person him/herself. Many clinicians ignore this criterion and diagnose the individual regardless of whether or not they report being distressed. Most men who rape women or molest children do not meet the diagnostic criteria for a DSM disorder (e.g., sexual sadism or pedophilic disorder).