Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD)

The term female sexual dysfunction describes a range of symptoms, all of which are related to low sex drive in women.

Female sexual dysfunction may refer to low levels of sexual desire. It may also refer to an inability to climax or pain during sex. While FSD can affect women of any age, it is more prevalent during hormonal changes, which mean that women over the age of 40 and above (who are likely to be going through menopause) are more susceptible. This condition in female also known as Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD), which is characterized as low sex drive and absence of sexual fantasies in female for some period of time.

Female sexuality is complex, and as such, it is difficult to precisely define or diagnose a condition like female sexual dysfunction. This has lead to a lot of debate among medical experts in recent years, about the exact nature of FSD.

The female sexual dysfunction debate

There has been much debate about the nature of FSD. Studies suggest that it does exist, and respected authorities such as the NHS recognise it. On the other hand some journalists and doctors are skeptical about whether female sexual dysfunction should really be categorised as a condition. They argue that female sexuality is very complex and to use FSD as an umbrella term for such a wide variety of female sexual problems is inaccurate. Many women say they have welcomed the development of the term female sexual dysfunction in recent years, because it gives a name to the libido problems they have been experiencing.

Causes of female sexual dysfunction

The causes of FSD are generally physical, psychological or hormonal. Physical causes may include high blood pressure or diabetes, other medications or a vaginal infection. Psychological causes can include depression, anxiety, and worries about work or relationships. Hormonal changes can include low estrogen, childbirth or breastfeeding.

Female sexual dysfunction treatment

There are several effective ways to treat female sexual dysfunction. FSD can be overcome through psychological counseling, if the root cause of the problem is something that is on your mind. If the cause of your FSD is physical, it is most likely to be something to do with hormonal imbalance. Intrinsa patches, which release the sex hormone testosterone into your body gradually, can restore a health balance of these hormones. In doing so, Intrinsa can raise your libido and allow you to enjoy satisfying sex again. A clinical test showed that 70% of women enjoyed more satisfying sex after taking Intrinsa patches.