According to the VA, “Combat is not the only trauma experienced in the military. Nearly 24 percent of female Veterans seeking VA health care report a history of military sexual trauma, or MST. In the review study, this group of women displayed negative sexual consequences above and beyond the effects of civilian sexual assault.
Though the researchers say the reason for the differing rates is not yet fully understood, one explanation could be that unlike in civilian situations, survivors of MST often are required to continue working with their attacker.
Researchers say this could compound the stress and make them more vulnerable to developing sexual dysfunction. Moreover, Veterans with PTSD, whether as a result of combat, MST, or both, may also be more likely to misuse alcohol and other illicit substances. This further increases the risk of sexual dysfunction.” https://www.research.va.gov/currents/spring2015/spring2015-3.cfm
PTSD and Sexual Dysfunction in
Non-Military Populations
According to statistics, the lifetime prevalence of PTSD for women who have been sexually assaulted is 50% (10). Moreover, sexual assault is the most frequent cause of PTSD in women, with one study reporting that 94% of women experienced PTSD symptoms during the first two weeks after an assault.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2323517/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0005789496800207
“Research findings also indicate that sexual dysfunctionality is often misdiagnosed and not immediately taken care of. Conclusion: The severity of the pathology regarding sexual dysfunctionality calls for immediate planning and coping.”
https://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=61250&#abstract
Another researcher said, “Difficulties in sexual desire and function often occur in persons with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but many questions remain regarding the mechanisms underlying the occurrence of sexual problems in PTSD.”
This same researcher postulated that sexual dysfunction in PTSD is related to an “inability to regulate and redirect the physiological arousal needed for healthy sexual function away from aversive hyperarousal and intrusive memories.”
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/274644635_PTSD_and_Sexual_Dysfunction_in_Men_and_Women
To restate the above in lay terms, the author is stating that those with PTSD get stuck in hyperarousal (which is another way to say HPA-Axis Dysfunction) and this physiological overdrive blocks healthy physiological arousal mechanisms.