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Revised definitions of women's sexual dysfunction.

Rosemary Basson1, Sandra Leiblum, Lori Brotto

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. sexmed@interchange.ubc.ca

The Journal of Sexual Medicine
|January 21, 2006
PubMed
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New definitions for women's sexual disorders move beyond a linear model, recognizing diverse motivations for sexual activity and contextual factors. These revised definitions aim for a more accurate understanding of female sexual health.

Area of Science:

  • Sexual Medicine
  • Women's Health
  • Psychology

Background:

  • Current definitions of female sexual disorders are based on a linear model of desire, arousal, and orgasm.
  • This model primarily focuses on genital responses and may not fully capture the complexity of women's sexual experiences.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To revise definitions of women's sexual disorders using an alternative model.
  • To incorporate women's varied reasons and incentives for sexual activity beyond initial desire.

Main Methods:

  • An International Definitions Committee of 13 experts from seven countries convened.
  • Methods included literature review, committee discussions, clinical testing, and public deliberation.
  • Expert opinions and recommendations were formed through this rigorous process.

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Main Results:

  • Women engage in sexual activity for diverse reasons, with desire often emerging after arousal is triggered.
  • Arousal and desire are co-occurring and mutually reinforcing; subjective arousal is not solely dependent on genital response.
  • New classifications for arousal disorders are proposed, distinguishing between general and genital-specific arousal absence. Persistent genital arousal disorder is suggested.
  • Orgasm disorder is defined by the absence of orgasm despite high subjective arousal.
  • Dyspareunia and vaginismus definitions are refined, incorporating partial entry pain and contextual factors.
  • Recommendations emphasize considering psychosexual history, current context, and medical status for diagnosis, acknowledging that sexual disorders do not always imply intrinsic dysfunction.

Conclusions:

  • The International Definitions Committee recommends fundamental changes to existing definitions of women's sexual disorders.
  • These revisions aim to provide a more comprehensive and accurate framework for understanding and diagnosing female sexual dysfunction.