Girl Talk: Is Your Low Sexual Desire Affecting You?

This post is sponsored by Valeant Pharmaceuticals North America LLC. Personal opinions and thoughts are my own.

Sex can be such a complicated topic within relationships. I think many of us just don’t have the proper education and often times we have trouble discussing sex with our partners and our healthcare providers. I know it can be uncomfortable talking about sex in general, but open communication with your partner is so important. When we learn about sex, it’s assumed that all of the parts will just function naturally.  In fact, if problems ever happen when it comes to sex, we often ignore them because we’re embarrassed or don’t know that there is help available.

September was Sexual Health Month and so it’s the perfect opportunity to discuss female sexual dysfunction (FSD), which includes arousal problems, orgasmic problems, sexual pain disorder and desire problems. It’s time for a little girl talk!

September Is Sexual Health Month: Could Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder Be Affecting You?
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What is Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD)?

HSDD is characterized by low sexual desire that causes marked distress or interpersonal difficulty and is not due to a co-existing medical or psychiatric disorder (e.g., depression), medication or other substance or relationship problems.

HSDD is the most common of female sexual dysfunctions, but it’s often undiagnosed and often untreated.1

In fact over 4 million premenopausal women in the U.S. may have HSDD, and many suffer in silence with this condition.2,3 This is why it’s important to have these tough discussions with your partner and healthcare provider.

Women should take comfort in knowing they’re not alone. I can only imagine how many women are out there blaming themselves for “not being in the mood” or thinking this all their fault. If some of this sounds familiar to you, there’s a way to get help.

Some signs that may indicate HSDD include: 

  • Persistently lacking or absent desire for sex that causes distress4
  • HSDD is not due to a co-existing medical condition, any medication, or relationship issues4

 

Just remember ladies, you’re not alone out there. There are tons of resources. Talk to your doctor if you feel you need support.

Do you think you might have decreased sexual desire and are distressed about it?

Take this quiz to learn more.

FSD, including HSDD, the most common form of FSD, visit FindMySpark.com.

 

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Valeant Pharmaceuticals North America LLC, a pharmaceutical company, and should not be construed to constitute medical advice. I received compensation in exchange for writing this post, and my personal story and thoughts are my own. I am not a medical professional and am not qualified to give medical advice. Please talk with your doctor about your individual medical situation.

1Kingsberg SA, Clayton AH, Pfaus J. The Female Sexual Response: Current Models, Neurobiological Underpinnings and Agents Currently Approved or Under Investigation for the Treatment of Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder. CNS Drugs. 2015;29(11):915-933.

2U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement, 2013. Internet release date: March 2016.

3Shifren J, Monz B, Russo, P, et al. Sexual Problems and Distress in United States Women. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2008; 112(5):970-978.

4American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 4th ed., Text Revision, Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association; 2000.

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