Sexual Desire Disorders

Risk Factors of Sexual Dysfunction

Usable definitions must be developed to provide consistency in the description of various sexual dysfunctions in men and women, as well as classifications of sexual disorders.

Descriptive and analytical epidemiological studies of various sexual dysfunctions backed…    

Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders

This section consists of two subsections. The first focuses on the treatment of sexual dysfunctions such as hypoactive sexual desire, premature ejaculation, male erectile disorder, dyspareunia, and female…    

Management of Hyperactive Sexual Desire

All patients presenting with hypersexuality require careful assessment and evaluation, including clinical examination. We have seen hypersexuality in women as a presenting symptom of an androgen-secreting ovarian tumor, a spinal tumor, and organic brain disease. It may be…    

Management of Hypoactive Sexual Desire

The presentations of clients with drive/desire disorders are divisible into those with primary and those with secondary problems. Primary desire disorders represent a significant challenge to psychological approaches, given that patients with these disorders lack the ability to…    

Hyperactive Sexual Desire

Etiology and Terminology

We mentioned earlier that at the opposite end of the sexual desire continuum from hypoactive sexual desire is a very small minority of individuals who have extremely high levels of sexual desire.…    

Secondary Hypoactive Sexual Desire

Secondary hypoactive sexual desire has the advantage of comparison, in that the patient is able to contrast current levels of libido with those enjoyed at some previous time and may well have a more informed sense of what…    

Hypoactive Sexual Desire - Assessment

It is essential at the outset of the assessment process to define exactly what a patient means by his or her complaint of low or absent sexual desire. The process includes ascertaining the reference against which the patient…    

Hypoactive Sexual Desire - Treatment Approaches

Over the past 15 years, sex therapists have increasingly come to recognize and acknowledge the diversity of etiological factors implicated in sexual desire disorders. As a result, current psychological treatment approaches are varied, ranging from long-term, individual psychotherapy…    

Hypoactive Sexual Desire - Biological Drive

In patients whose hypoactive sexual desire disorder is global, deficiency of sexual drive should be considered early in the assessment process, because an easily treatable condition, such as reduced serum testosterone, might be identified. Although assessment of sexual…    

Hypoactive Sexual Desire - Etiology

The etiology of hypoactive sexual desire disorder is multifactorial and complex, involving neuroendocrine, psychological, and behavioral factors. It is, however, poorly understood, giving rise to the sense of “bafflement” alluded to by various authors in the literature (Apfelbaum…    

Hypoactive Sexual Desire - Comorbidity With Other Sexual Difficulties

Hypoactive sexual desire disorder may exist as an isolated sexual problem, with the presenting person being able to experience sexual arousal and orgasm. However, it is not uncommon for men and women to lose sexual desire when experiencing…    

Hypoactive Sexual Desire - Gender Issues

Despite marked inconsistencies in the research, clinical as well as social observation suggests that there are differences in the felt experience of sexual desire between men and women. On the whole, it does appear that men have a…    

Hypoactive Sexual Desire - Prevalence

The U.S. national probability sample of 1,749 women and 1,410 men aged 18-59 years provides useful prevalence data for sexual dysfunction, including hypoactive sexual desire ("lacked interest in sex"). Among women, the prevalence of this symptom changed little…    

Hypoactive Sexual Desire

Definitions and Diagnostic Criteria

The most frequently presenting sexual desire disorder is deficiency of sexual desire, which is termed hypoactive sexual drive. The DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association 1994) criteria for hypoactive sexual desire disorder are…    

Sexual Desire Disorders

Sexual Desire Disorders Introduction

Of all sexual symptoms, disorders of sexual desire are probably the most difficult to manage, and yet…