Female Sexual Dysfunction: Current Models and Treatment Options

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Sexual Medicine
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a complex and often overlooked area of sexual health.
• The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) categorizes FSD into four distinct diagnoses: sexual pain disorder, sexual interest/arousal disorder, orgasmic disorder, and medication/substance-induced sexual dysfunction.
• Historical research on female sexual function provides context for current understanding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review early studies on female sexual function.
• To describe the subtypes of FSD, including their causes, at-risk populations, and available treatments.
• To discuss pharmacological, behavioral, and physical therapy interventions for FSD.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed.
• Relevant keywords were employed to identify pertinent studies.
• Citations from original research were also utilized to gather information.

Main Results:

• Evidence supports multiple treatment modalities for FSD, tailored to specific DSM-5 diagnoses.
• Randomized clinical trials demonstrate efficacy for various pharmacological and therapeutic interventions across FSD subtypes.

Conclusions:

• Effective treatment of FSD necessitates a collaborative, team-based approach involving partners, therapists, psychiatrists, and physical therapists.
• Pharmacological interventions may be appropriate adjuncts to therapy.
• While progress has been made, further research is needed to standardize measurement tools and include diverse populations like transgender and lesbian women.