About HSDD & FSIAD
Studies show that a large percentage of adult women worldwide suffer from sexual complaints, with low desire consistently reported as the most common1-4. As a result, many women are dissatisfied with their sex lives, which often affects their social and emotional wellbeing.
Sexual health issues caused by lack of sexual desire (or drive) has been classified as a clinical condition referred to as Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) in the DSM-4, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
HSDD is defined as a persistent lack or absence of sexual interest.
This lack of desire can be compounded with difficulties relating to arousal, called Female Sexual Arousal Disorder (FSAD). These include low levels of genital lubrication, swelling, etc., in response to sexually exciting stimuli.
FSAD is defined as the difficulty to reach or maintain sexual excitement.
Together, the conditions relating to reduced desire and insufficient sexual excitement are grouped under FSIAD, a term used in the DSM-5 to group interest and arousal under the same umbrella diagnosis and create a holistic picture.
The neurobiological mechanisms of HSDD and FSAD can vary, so there are still subgroups with distinctive causes and symptoms.
But all women suffering from these conditions experience distress.
If you think you may have sexual dysfunction, speak with your physician or mental health care provider about completing a diagnostic questionnaire.
FSIAD is outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as the following:
A. Absence or significantly reduced sexual interest:
- Absent/reduced interest in sexual activity
- Absent/reduced sexual/erotic thoughts or fantasies
- No/reduced initiation of sexual activity; unresponsive to partner’s attempt to initiate sexual activity
- Absent/reduced sexual excitement/pleasure during sexual activity in at least 75% of encounters
- Absent/reduced sexual interest/arousal in response to any internal or external cues (e.g., written, verbal, visual)
- Absent/reduced genital or non-genital sensations during sexual activity in at least 75% of sexual encounters
B. The problem causes clinically significant distress
C. The sexual dysfunction is not better explained by:
- Non-sexual mental disorder
- Severe relationship distress (e.g. partner violence) or other stressors
- Effects of a substance/medication or another medical condition
These conditions may be lifelong (no prior history of normal functioning) or acquired (history of normal functioning).
They may occur only in specific circumstances (situational) or may affect all aspects of sexual experience (generalized).
contact your healthcare provider if you think you may have sexual dysfunction
References
- de Oliveira L, Vignozzi L, Giraldi A, Varod S, Corona G, Reisman Y; What Women Want? The State of the Art regarding the Treatment of Young Women with Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder. Pharmacology 2024 Apr 08; 109 (2): 69–75.
- Laumann EO, Paik A, Rosen RC. Sexual dysfunction in the United States: prevalence and predictors. JAMA 1999 Feb 10; 281(6):537-44.
- Laumann EO, Nicolosi A, Glasser DB, Paik A, Gingell C, Moreira E, Wang T; GSSAB Investigators’ Group. Sexual problems among women and men aged 40-80 y: prevalence and correlates identified in the Global Study of Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors. Int J Impot Res 2005 Jan-Feb; 17(1): 39-57.
- Shifren JL, Monz BU, Russo PA, Segreti A, Johannes CB. Sexual problems and distress in United States women: prevalence and correlates. Obstet Gynecol 2008 Nov; 112(5): 970-8.
- McCabe MP, Sharlip ID, Lewis R, Atalla E, Balon R, Fisher AD, Laumann E, Lee SW, Segraves RT. Incidence and Prevalence of Sexual Dysfunction in Women and Men: A Consensus Statement from the Fourth International Consultation on Sexual Medicine 2015. J Sex Med 2016 Feb;13(2): 144-52.
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