Psychotherapy in Treating Female Sexual Dysfunction

This paper provides a summary of the biopsychosocial approach to the identification of female sexual dysfunction, with a particular focus on psychological, interpersonal, and sociocultural components. A summary of psychotherapeutic approaches to the management of female sexual dysfunction, for cases warranting a specialist referral, is provided. Approaches including sensate focus sex therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based approaches, and systematic desensitization are summarized. This information may support obstetric and gynecologic health care professionals in engaging in interdisciplinary care and in providing an informative and warm referral to patients who would benefit from psychotherapeutic approaches.