Female sexuality and common sexual dysfunctions: evaluation and management in a primary care setting

Sexual dysfunctions are highly prevalent in today's society. Male sexual disorders have received considerable attention, leading to a multitude of treatment options. Female sexual dysfunctions, on the other hand, have gone vastly underreported and untreated. A large part of this could be attributed to social mores, resulting in an overall lack of communication. The complex interplay between psychological and physiological factors involved in sexual response requires a comprehensive understanding of the norm and deviations from it. This review of the literature attempts to bring this topic into focus by concentrating on normal female sexual response, the many levels at which these dysfunctions may occur, identification in a clinical setting, and current therapeutic modalities.