Female sexual dysfunction refers to health problems that cause a woman to feel distress in one or more of these areas:
This problem may be caused by one or more of the following:
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The risk of this problem increases with age. The risk is also higher in women who have any of the causes listed above.
This problem causes a woman distress due to:
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. You will also be asked about your sexual history. A physical exam will be done. A pelvic exam may also be done if you are having any pain.
The doctor may look for signs of infection. This can be done with:
The cause will need to be treated. Medical and non-medical treatments may be used. Some choices are:
The risk of this problem may be lowered by managing chronic health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, and mental health issues.
American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
http://www.acog.org
Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians
http://www.familydoctor.org
The Canadian Women's Health Network
http://www.cwhn.ca
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
http://www.sogc.org
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Practice Bulletin 119 on female sexual dysfunction can be found in Obstet Gynecol 2011 Apr;117(4):996-1007.
Female sexual dysfunction. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/female-sexual-dysfunction. Accessed February 2, 2021.
Overview of female sexual function and dysfunction. Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at: https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/gynecology-and-obstetrics/sexual-dysfunction-in-women/overview-of-female-sexual-function-and-dysfunction?query=Overview%20of%20Sexual%20Dysfunction%20in%20Women. Accessed February 25, 2021.
Your sexual health. American College of Obstretricians and Gynecologists website. Available at: https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/your-sexual-health. Accessed February 25, 2021.
Last reviewed December 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Beverly Siegal, MD, FACOG