Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD)

Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD) is a medical condition that has received little attention in the past. Now, with an increased awareness of women’s health issues, FSD is being discussed more openly. In addition, the availability of both old and new treatments for male erectile dysfunction has prompted women to demand effective solutions for their own sexual concerns. In fact, sexual dysfunction is actually more prevalent in women than men. More than 43% of American women (about 40 million) experience some form of sexual disorder.¹

Sexual dysfunction can be defined as "the persistent impairment of a couple’s normal or usual patterns of sexual interest and/or responses".² FSD is characterized by one or more of the following symptoms: reduced or no clitoral sensation, reduced or no lubrication and difficulty or inability to experience an orgasm. It includes disorders related to arousal, orgasm and pain, resulting in personal distress.

Recently, the Sexual Function Health Council of the American Foundation for Urologic Disease convened a multi-national consensus conference panel to discuss female sexual dysfunction and to identify priorities for future research. Specifically, the panel evaluated and revised existing definitions and classifications of female sexual dysfunction. The panel expanded the definitions of female sexual dysfunction to include both psychogenic and organic causes of desire, arousal, orgasm and sexual pain disorders. The consensus definitions of female sexual dysfunction are provided in the following table. ³

Sexual Desire Disorders
hypoactive sexual desire disorder	The persistent or recurrent deficiency (or absence) of sexual fantasies, thoughts and/or desire for, or receptivity to, sexual activity, which causes personal distress.
sexual aversion disorder	The persistent or recurrent phobic aversion to and avoidance of sexual contact with a sexual partner, which causes personal distress.
Sexual Arousal Disorder
The persistent or recurrent ability to attain or maintain sufficient sexual excitement, causing personal distress. It may be expressed as lack of subjective excitement or a lack of genital (lubrication/swelling) or other somatic responses.
Orgasmic Disorder
The persistent or recurrent difficulty, delay in, or absence of attaining orgasm following sufficient sexual stimulation and arousal, which causes personal distress.
Sexual Pain Disorders
dyspareunia	Recurrent or persistent genital pain associated with sexual intercourse.
vaginisumus	Recurrent or persistent involuntary spasm of the musculature of the outer third of the vagina that interferes with vaginal penetration.
Non-Coital Sexual Pain Disorder
Recurrent of persistent genital pain induced by non-coital sexual stimulation.

Despite the common occurrence of FSD, many women may be too embarrassed or reluctant to discuss their sexual problems with their physician. In addition, physicians have had few effective treatments for FSD to prescribe. The Eros Therapy gives the physician the opportunity to prescribe a treatment for patients who complain of diminished vaginal lubrication, diminished clitoral sensation, reduced ability to achieve orgasm and lowered sexual satisfaction.

Few treatments have been available for female sexual dysfunction until recently. The Eros Therapy™ is a clitoral therapy device and the first and only FDA market-cleared treatment for FSD. For more information, view our informational video, “Life Is Good Again,” or call our toll-free Customer CAREline at 1-877-774-1442.

References

1. Laumann E, Paik A, Rosen R. Sexual Dysfunction in the United States, Prevalence and Predictors. JAMA; 10;281(6):537,1999.
    
2. Howton K. Sex Therapy: A Practical Guide. New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 1985.
    
3. Report on the International Consensus Development Conference of Female Sexual Dysfunction: Definitions and Classifications. October 1999.