Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 12, 2026
04:22
Treatment Model for Young Patients with Psychogenic Erectile Dysfunction and Resultant Infertility
Published on: May 30, 2025
Sexual dysfunctions in women
Cindy M Meston1, Andrea Bradford
1Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA. meston@psy.utexas.edu
Annual Review of Clinical Psychology
|August 25, 2007
Summary
This review covers female sexual dysfunction definitions, causes, and treatments. It critically examines current diagnostic criteria and evaluates evidence for various therapeutic approaches.
Area of Science:
- Women's Health
- Sexual Medicine
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Female sexual dysfunction is a complex health issue.
- Current diagnostic frameworks, like the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV-TR), are under review.
- Understanding the etiology and assessment is crucial for effective treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive summary of female sexual dysfunction.
- To critically evaluate the DSM-IV-TR criteria and recent literature.
- To review and assess the evidence for psychosocial and biomedical treatments.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of clinical research on female sexual dysfunction.
- Analysis of diagnostic criteria and their assumptions.
- Critical examination of empirical support for therapeutic interventions.
Main Results:
- The article synthesizes information on the definition, etiology, and assessment of female sexual dysfunctions.
- It highlights criticisms of the DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria.
- Evidence for various treatment modalities is critically reviewed.
Conclusions:
- A comprehensive understanding of female sexual dysfunction requires evaluating current diagnostic standards.
- Further research is needed to refine diagnostic criteria and treatment efficacy.
- Evidence-based psychosocial and biomedical interventions are essential for managing these conditions.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Disorders of the Female Reproductive System
The female reproductive system can be affected by several disorders, including Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), endometriosis, and various forms of cancer. PMS and PMDD are cyclical conditions that cause physical and emotional distress, with symptoms that include edema, mood swings, and food cravings. PMDD is a more severe form of PMS characterized by increased symptom severity that peaks during the luteal phase and tends to improve or resolve shortly after...
01:20Disorders of the Male Reproductive System
Men's health issues are increasingly recognized as significant, with several conditions posing common threats. Among these, testicular cancer is especially prevalent in younger men, particularly those aged 20 to 35 years. The disease often manifests as a painless mass in the testicles, sometimes accompanied by a sensation of heaviness or a dull ache.
Prostate disorders are another major concern. These conditions can impair urinary flow due to the prostate's location around the urethra. Symptoms...
Prostate disorders are another major concern. These conditions can impair urinary flow due to the prostate's location around the urethra. Symptoms...
01:23Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Genital
The genital stage is the final phase of Sigmund Freud's theory of psychosexual development, beginning at puberty, around age 12. During this stage, sexual energy shifts from self-focused interests to external individuals, marking the development of mature adult sexuality. Freud saw this phase as a time of sexual reawakening, with desires directed toward others outside the family. A healthy transition into this stage, according to Freud, signifies the emergence of two key aspects of adult...
01:12Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Phallic
The third stage of psychosexual development proposed by Freud is the phallic stage, occurring between the ages of 3 and 6. During this period, children become aware of their bodies and the differences between males and females. The erogenous zone in this stage is the genitals, and conflicts arise as children develop desires toward the opposite-sex parent. Boys experience the Oedipus complex, where they desire their mother and view their father as a rival. This leads to castration anxiety, the...
01:43Sex Linked Disorders
Like autosomes, sex chromosomes contain a variety of genes necessary for normal body function. When a mutation in one of these genes results in biological deficits, the disorder is considered sex-linked.
01:29Self-Discrepancy and Its Effects
Self-discrepancy theory explains how people compare their actual self to their ideal and ought selves and how mismatches between these self-guides can lead to emotional distress. Developed by E. Tory Higgins, the theory distinguishes among three components of self-concept: the actual self, the ideal self, and the ought self. These refer respectively to how individuals perceive themselves, how they aspire to be, and how they believe they are obligated to be. Emotional well-being, self-esteem,...