Low libido in women is poorly understood especially for younger, pre-menopausal women. A recent study sheds some light on what women in the 20 to 45 year old age range believe are the major contributors to their drop in sexual interest.
When decreased libido is persistent enough to cause concern or distress to a patient it is known as hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). It can occur in women of all ages and reproductive stages. In general, a loss of sexual interest of varying degrees is the most common complaint offered by up to 26 to 43 % of women when they are asked about their sexual concerns and issues. Of those, approximately 10 percent experience a severe enough drop in sex drive to be diagnosed with HSDD.
What causes HSDD is not clear. Most studies over the last decade suggest that there are multiple reasons why women experience a decreased interest in sex. But for women aged 20-35 in particular, a lack of sexual interest is more likely to be viewed as distressing to a relationship and their own sexuality compared to women aged 36 and older.
A recent study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine investigated the causes of HSDD in pre-menopausal women who had been diagnosed with HSDD. Researchers from the New England Research Institute in Watertown, MA surveyed 400 women about what the women thought were the major factors that had contributed to their desire problems.
Most women (85%) reported that multiple factors influenced their ongoing low libido. The most common causes cited were stress or fatigue (60%), dissatisfaction with physical appearance (40.8%), and other sexual difficulties such as the inability to reach orgasm (33.5%).
The authors recommend that physicians treating young women with HSDD should help their patients develop a “comprehensive, patient-oriented management plan“ including therapy to address low self-esteem and behavioral strategies to cope with stress and fatigue.
HSDD can also be linked to poor physical health, depression, hormonal imbalance, a history of urinary tract problems and surgical menopause. It is important for women of all ages to discuss their sexual concerns with their health care providers so that if issues such as HSDD arise they can be fully addressed and treated.
Contributed by: D. Jenkins, Ph.D.
Sources:
Maserejian NN et al., “The Presentation of Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder in Premonopausal Women,” Jour Sexual Med. 2010 July 14 [Epub ahead of print].
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/123583619/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0
Brotto L., “The DSM Diagnostic Critria for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder in Women,” Arch Sex Behavior, published online: Sept 24, 2009.
http://www.dsm5.org/Documents/Sex%20and%20GID%20Lit%20Reviews/SD/BROTTO.HSSD.DSM.pdf
EmpowHER articles related to HSDD:
“What is Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder? – Dr. Goldstein (VIDEO),” October 2009.
https://www.empowher.com/female-sexual-dysfunction/content/what-hypoactive-sexual-desire-disorder-dr-goldstein-video
“Dr. Laura Berman Shares Tips to Improve Your Sex Life,” June 2010.
https://www.empowher.com/sexual-well-being/content/dr-laura-berman-shares-tips-improve-your-sex-life
“Pink Viagra Leaves FDA Unsatisfied,” June 2010.
https://www.empowher.com/sex-amp-relationships/content/pink-viagra-leaves-fda-unsatisfied