11 March 2021 Author : Carlos Fernandes What is hypoactive sexual desire? Hypoactive sexual desire is the most common sexual dysfunction of women. Generically it can be defined as lack of desire or spontaneous motivation (through thoughts or fantasies), to initiate or participate in sexual activity , even with stimulation, persistently or recurrently, in a normal life context, causing personal suffering.H It is estimated to have a prevalence between 8% - 19%; It is more common at older ages and after menopause, particularly in surgical menopause. Other female sexual dysfunctions can manifest itself in other ways, for example by pain during sexual intercourse ( dyspareunia ) or difficulty in reaching orgasm . What are the causes of hypoactive sexual desire Women sexual dysfunctions can have physical , psychological , interpersonal causes or be multifactorial. They interfere with sexual relations and with women quality of life. Regarding female sexual desire, several factors that can influence it, for example: Hormonal changes related to menopause; Urinary incontinence; Thyroid diseases; Prolactin increase; Diabetes; Relationship problems; History of sexual abuse; Depression; Anxiety. Although low testosterone levels have also been linked to female underactive sexual desire, there is no threshold below which it can be predicted that this problem will occur. The partner sexual problems can also influence female sexual desire. Diagnosis and treatment The diagnosis of hypoactive sexual desire requires a complete clinical evaluation to identify a neurobiological, interpersonal, psychological cause, or a combination of several factors. It is important to obtain a detailed description of the sexual problem , including its onset, duration, and severity, as well as possible factors that triggered and maintained it. Since sexual desire is a sensitive subject, which for many women is uncomfortable to address in consultation, questionnaires have been developed that facilitate its approach and assist in the diagnosis and characterization of the problem. Examples are: Decreased sexual desire screener; Female sexual function index. Medical tests are often necessary, such as laboratory tests with determination of hormone levels (testosterone, prolactin, thyroid function), and perhaps imaging tests . The therapeutic approach to hypoactive sexual desire depends on its causes. Therefore, an individual approach is defined according to the causes associated with the disorder. It can include, for example, hormone replacement therapy, accompaniment in psychology or sexology consultation, couple therapy consultations, evaluation in gynecology consultation, among other possibilities. For this reason, f emale hypoactive sexual desire often requires a multidisciplinary team , involving doctors of various specialties - endocrinologists, gynecologists and urologists - and psychologists, with experience in sexology. Meet the endocrinology team from Hospital da Luz network. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
