Researchers estimate that up to 43 percent of the female population experiences sexual dysfunction at some point in their lives. Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a characterized by a lowered libido, lack of sexual desire, possible pain during intercourse, and/or the inability to reach orgasm in women. Female sexual dysfunction is a complex issue, as the female libido is intrinsically linked to emotional intimacy. Relationships, hormones, emotions and stress all play a factor in the female libido and a woman's ability to achieve intimacy.
Some experts question the alleged prevalence of sexual dysfunction in women, since the symptoms are highly generalized and could stem from a number of causes. Since FSD does not have a strict biological cause, some researchers argue that it is over-diagnosed. Many experts have posed the question — if a woman is disinterested in sex, does she necessarily have a "disease" or disorder?
Decreases in the female libido due to menopause or childbirth are normal. A woman also may have lost interest in sex simply because she is no longer attracted to her partner or experiencing high stress levels in her personal life. Just because a woman is disinterested in sex or she has trouble having an orgasm, they argue, does not mean that she has a disease.
In recent years, several drug companies have created products that have been marketed to treat female sexual dysfunction. Some medical doctors and psychologists assert that these pharmaceutical companies exploit women suffering from a complex range of psychological and emotional symptoms, including stress, hormone-related problems and issues relating to personal relationships.
Proponents of this stance contend that pharmaceutical companies are deliberately misrepresenting FSD as a medical condition, rather than one stemming from emotional or psychological difficulties. Many feel that pharmaceutical companies are more concerned with cornering the drug market with a specific sex-enhancing drug for women than tackling the underlying problems relating to women's health and sexuality.
Many experts that research FSD, as well as drug development companies that study the treatment of the disease, differ in their perception of FSD. They argue that drugs can be developed to help women achieve sexual satisfaction and heighten the female libido. Female sexual dysfunction can cause stress and anxiety in a relationship and a return to a healthy sex life can heighten emotional intimacy as well as help a woman regain her sexual health, they argue.
So, does the medical condition FSD exist? Or was it manufactured by the pharmaceutical giants in order to generate profit?
Not until recently has FSD been recognized as a treatable condition. Women with sexual dysfunction were previously simply labeled as "frigid." Many of these women now feel comfortable seeking medical advice, since labeling the disorder can reduce stigma and help women see their issue as a treatable condition.
There is much more to treating female sexual dysfunction than medication. Typically, other methods are explored before a woman begins taking drugs. Depending on her symptoms, a woman suffering from FSD may be encouraged to:
Male libido is easier to define than female libido, and it is therefore easier to treat sexual dysfunction in men. Erectile dysfunction can be cured in many cases by taking drugs such as Viagra®, which help to promote blood flow to the genitals, or hormone-based products containing testosterone.
Most new-generation drugs aimed at curing FSD are hormone-based and designed to raise women's levels of sexual energy and ability to orgasm. In other words, these drugs focus largely on the physical symptoms of FSD rather than the psychological factors.
Lack of female libido, however, often tends to stem from psychological issues — such as stress, lack of emotional intimacy, and poor relationships with partners — rather than straightforward physical problems. Sometimes women seek a medical cure for sexual problems when the root of the problem is emotional. For women, therefore, there is rarely a quick-fix solution.
According to a study conducted by the Kinsey Institute, women's health research to date has focused mainly on the physical aspects of female sexuality and sexual dysfunction. Results of this research underscore the "importance of non-physiological components of sexuality as well as the general importance of mental health." Significantly, the study concluded that the percentage of women suffering from FSD was nearer 25 percent, a far lower figure than the generally accepted statistic of 43 percent.
Which side is "right"? It may take years and numerous research studies and clinical trials before that question is answered. If you or your partner are suffering from sexual dysfunction, talk to your doctor. It's important to know the cause of the problem in order to begin proper treatment.
Callahan, R. (2003). Study: Women's sex problems overestimated. Retrieved January 22, 2003, from the Chicago Sun-Times Web site: www.suntimes.com/output/health/cst-nws-sex19.html.
Gorney, C. (2002). Designing women. Retrieved January 22, 2003, from the Washington Post Web site: www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article
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