In a recent US survey of 2,501 women, researchers found that while the majority of participants agreed that sex is an important part of their life and relationships, nearly 50 per cent admitted that low sexual desire was putting their relationship at risk.
The survey included non-menopausal women, aged 21 to 49, of varying backgrounds to “bring them in line with their actual proportions in the population.” Seven per cent identified as lesbian or bisexual. The findings included:
• 48 per cent said their sex drive is lower than in the past
• 75 per cent believe their low sexual desire could have a big impact on their well-being
• 93 per cent feel that low sexual desire can put a strain on their relationship
• 81 per cent admitted to having “mercy sex” with their partner when they were not in the mood
• 77 per cent believe there needs to be a more honest, open discussion about women's low sex drives
Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD) is defined as constant, repeated problems with sexual response, orgasm, pain or desire. The most common form of FSD is low libido that causes distress or Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD), which impacts four million women in the US. HSDD is a recognized medical condition that affects women who are generally otherwise healthy. The condition is thought to be caused by an imbalance in the brain of serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine.
“A woman’s level of sexual desire can be caused by a number of things, including certain medications, underlying medical conditions, menopause, relationship issues, et cetera,” Dr. Leah Millheiser, a gynecologist and female sexuality expert at Stanford University, told me. “However, HSDD is when a woman is in a healthy relationship, she’s attracted to her partner, is otherwise healthy, but feels a persistent, chronic lack of desire that causes her personal distress.
“HSDD is not caused by a medical or psychiatric condition or a medication, and doesn’t improve with tropical vacations, flowers or date nights. It’s a persistent, chronic lack of desire likely caused by an imbalance in the chemicals in her brain.”
However, there have been connections made between clinical depression and HSDD. A diminished sex drive is often overlooked as a symptom of clinical depression, and these two problems can eat their own tail. “When individuals are depressed, a loss of sex drive is a symptom,” Dr. Debra Laino, a sexologist in Wilmington, Delaware, said in an interview with EverydayHealth.com. “Other times, loss of sex drive can lead to depression. It can go either way.”
Physicians tend to treat depression first and then deal with HSDD. Antidepressants or SSRI (Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitor) medications are known to reduce sexual desire.
Many women are quick to blame sexism or the male-dominated medical field for the absence of a female Viagra, but it’s not the patriarchy. It’s biology. A while back, I spoke with Dr. Jen Berman, a Los Angeles-based urologist who works closely with cannabis-focused health-and-wellness brand Foria to create products for female intimacy and pain relief. I asked her why it's so hard to create an FDA-approved drug that helps women with low sex drive. “The approval of drugs for women is lagging far behind that of men,” she admits. “[But] the causes are not so much that [the medical community] is discriminatory against women. There is actually a higher degree of caution with women due to reproductive health and safety concerns.”
To help educate women about female sexual dysfunction, the American Sexual Health Association (ASHA) teamed up with leading experts in women’s sexual health (with support from Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc.) to launch the informational hub FindMySpark.com. The site is in its infancy, but is a useful place for women to go for help.
“Find My Spark is a great first step for women who have sexual concerns to get more information on female sexual dysfunction and tips on how to initiate that conversation with their healthcare provider, as well as their partner,” says Dr. Millheiser. “Sexual dysfunction isn’t always easy to talk about, and women often feel alone. I wanted to get involved in this project to tell women that they are not alone. I want to empower women to become educated and start the conversation with their healthcare providers to find the appropriate solution to their sexual difficulties.”
• EMAIL MISH: Send Mish your own sex questions and queries to [email protected]
