According to a new study by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, almost half of women report sexual problems. Of these, only 12 percent say their dysfunctions cause them personal distress.

The study, published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology, found that 43.1 percent of the total of 32,000 women surveyed reported some kind of sexual problems: 39 percent of women ages 18 to 102 reported low levels of desire, 26 percent reported problems with arousal, and 21 percent problems with achieving orgasm. Women were given questionnaires and researchers used a Female Sexual Distress Scale to measure the levels of sexual related personal distress on a scale that included words such as unhappiness, guilt, frustration, and embarrassment to capture distress.

According to the National Institutes of Health, sexual problems are defined as difficulty during any stage of the sexual act (desire, arousal, orgasm and resolution) that prevents the individual or the couple from enjoying sexual activity.

“The highest prevalence of sexual dysfunction was in older women, but they experienced less associated distress,” Dr. Jan Shifren, lead study investigator and director of the Vincent Menopause Program at Massachusetts General Hospital noted.

Distressing sexual problems were more common in mid-aged women (ages 45 to 64) than in younger or older women. Depressed women were two times more likely to report distressing sexual problems compared with women who were not depressed. Other reasons could include medical problems, partner changes, problems with their partner’s health.

“We need to do more to identify these women and provide them with care,” the researchers concluded. Working with a therapist will help you work out how to handle the sexual problems you’re having and find a better way to solve them.