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Sexual Dysfunction in Women

Fehima C Dawy, MD and Miguel A. Palacios, MD Reviewed 06/2021
 


BASICS

  • Very common: ~40% of women surveyed in the United States have sexual concerns.

  • May present as a lack of sexual desire, impaired arousal, inability to achieve orgasm or pain with sexual activity,...

DIAGNOSIS

  • Female sexual dysfunction is diagnosed by utilizing a validated sexual function screening instrument and a structured interview, including detailed medical and sexual history, to confirm dia...

TREATMENT

  • Set realistic goals and expectations (1)[C].

  • Address underlying medical and psychiatric conditions (2)[C].

  • If SSRIs, consider switching to an antidepressant with fewer sexual adverse effects...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Lifestyle modifications and medication changes 

DIET

Weight reduction if overweight or obese 

PATIENT EDUCATION

  • American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselor...

REFERENCES

1
Kingsberg  SA, Woodard  T. Female sexual dysfunction: focus on low desire. Obstet Gynecol.  2015;125(2):477–486. [View Abstract on OvidMedline] ...

CODES

ICD10

  • R37 Sexual dysfunction, unspecified

  • F52.0 Hypoactive sexual desire disorder

  • N94.1 Dyspareunia

  • F52.31 Female orgasmic disorder

  • N94.2 Vaginismus

  • F52.6 Dyspareunia not due to a substance or known p...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Female sexual dysfunction is a common, complex, multifactorial problem.

  • Usually, patients with sexual dysfunction have a normal physical exam.

  • Symptoms of sexual dysfunction peak during ...

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