Female Sexual Medicine

Female Sexual Medicine

Female Sexual Dysfunction is a newly recognized medical condition in which women experience sexual complaints that cause significant personal bother. FSD is common, as 43% of American women or about 40 million women complain that they have lost interest in sex or it just is not as enjoyable as it used be. Many report diminished sexual sensation or say they’ve lost their ability to achieve an orgasm. Some have pain with intercourse.

FSD is divided into four categories:

1. Desire Disorder: the woman doesn’t feel "in the mood" for sexual activity.
2. Arousal Disorder: the woman has trouble becoming vaginally lubricated or "wet" and/or her sexual sensations are diminished.
3. Orgasmic Disorder: the woman has difficulty achieving orgasms or doesn’t have them at all.
4. Pain Disorder: means that the woman experiences pain during intercourse.

Causes of FSD include:

• Decreased estrogen and/or testosterone levels, which may be associated with changes during and after menopause.
• Decreased blood supply to the clitoris — symptoms associated with this condition include lack of sensation and pelvic pain, both chronically and during intercourse.
• Complications from nerve or spinal cord injuries and/or medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis.
• Musculogenic insufficiencies relating to childbirth or pelvic trauma that result in a lack of sensation.

The number and quality of treatments is growing but lags far behind male sexual dysfunction. Clinical research is ongoing as well as pharmacological research to address the problem. Some of the treatments for FSD today include:

• Hormonal therapy
• Vaginal creams to stimulate blood flow
• EROS™ a clitoral pump that helps stimulate blood flow
• Trans-vaginal electrical stimulation to stimulate nerves and help strengthen pelvic floor muscles
• Peripheral nerve stimulation

Please contact us to schedule an appointment.