Learn more about the most common type of
female sexual dysfunction, a hypoactive sexual desire disorder also known as HSDD. HSDD affects women's sexual desire and has many contributing factors that contribute to a woman's sexual dysfunction.
Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) is the most common form of female sexual dissatisfaction (FSD) and occurs when there is a persistent lack of desire or absence of sexual fantasies. In other words, you're rarely in the mood; you neither initiate sex nor seek stimulation.
Lack of desire often occurs as a result of relationship conflicts, say Drs. Jennifer and Laura Berman, two of the nation's top experts on sexual health for women.
"Communications problems, anger, a lack of trust, a lack of connection and a lack of intimacy can all adversely affect a woman's sexual response and interest," they write in their book: For Women Only: A Revolutionary Guide to Overcoming Sexual Dysfunction and Reclaiming Your Sex Life.
If this sounds like you, counseling and therapy with your partner is probably your No. 1 treatment option to overcome HSDD, the sisters say.
Medical Causes of HSDD
Obviously, lifestyle factors also influence the desire for sex. A single working mom who is overwhelmed by family needs may feel too exhausted to relax, kick back and fantasize about sex — let alone engage in it! However, sometimes a medical condition is the underlying cause of low libido, including:
- Medication Use: Many commonly prescribed drugs, such as antihypertensives, antidepressants and birth control pills, interfere with sex drive, arousal and orgasm by affecting the balance of sexual hormones and the transmission of chemical messengers. For instance, antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors combat depression by increasing the production of serotonin in the brain. Unfortunately, serotonin dampens sexual desire.
- Menopause: The onset of menopause, either surgical or natural, is characterized by a gradual decline of the hormones estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Reduced testosterone levels, in particular, say the Bermans, can lead to a "sudden or gradual" decline in libido. Ironically, the conventional hormone replacement regimen of estrogen and progesterone given to relieve menopausal symptoms can make matters worse, because estrogen increases a protein (called steroid hormone-binding globulin) in the blood that binds to testosterone, causing it to become less available to the body.
