PSYCHIATRY&CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY Romanian Free Psychiatrists Association(APLR)

Introduction to Female Sexual Dysfunction


Introduction to Female Sexual Dysfunction

Female sexual health is a dynamic and multifaceted phenomenon that is closely linked to a woman's overall quality of life. Sexual dysfunctions can interfere with intimacy, affect a martial relationship, and ultimately erode well-being and overall health. Determining the etiology of sexual complaints in women is often a complex process; the healthcare provider must be a cautious detective, exploring both the medical and psychological issues that can influence the sexual response cycle. An analysis of data on more than 1700 women aged 18-49 from the National Health and Social Life Survey suggested that the incidence of sexual complaints in women was approximately 43%, with diminished desire being the most frequent disorder cited.[1]

The physiology of the female sexual response involves more than the genital pelvic organs (vulva, clitoris, labia majora and minora) and the internal pelvic structures (vagina, uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes). The spinal and central nervous system are also major contributors as are a number of areas of the brain, including the hippocampus, hypothalamus, limbic system, and medial preoptic area. Also implicated in the response cycle are neuropeptides like serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, opioids, nitric oxide, acetylcholine, and vasoactive intestinal peptide. Sex steroids, estradiol and testosterone, are essential in the female genital response and normative functioning of the response cycle.