Sexual arousal disorder

Sexual arousal disorder, a condition found in the DSM-IV, is generally defined as the inability to attain or maintain typical responses to sexual arousal.

Contents

1 Signs and symptoms 2 Diagnosis 3 Treatment 4 See also 5 External links

Signs and symptoms

The term is often used to diagnose women (as the term erectile dysfunction (ED) is often used for men), particularly those with sexual symptoms such as:

• Lack of vaginal lubrication
• Lack of vaginal dilation or lengthening
• Decreased genital tumescence
• Decreased genital or nipple sensation

Contrary to popular belief, the disorder is not always caused from a lack of sexual arousal. Possible causes of sexual arousal disorder include psychological and emotional factors, such as depression, anger, and stress; relationship factors, such as conflict or lack of trust; and medical factors, such as depleted hormones, reduced regional blood flow, and nerve damage.

Diagnosis

It is, therefore, important for a licensed psychologist to first remove doubt of psychological or emotional problems, a trained sex therapist to then remove doubt of relationship concerns, and a medical doctor to further investigate medical causes.

Treatment

Depending on the cause of the disorder, hormone therapy or a blood-flow enhancing medication, like Viagra, may be appropriate.

A new medication, PT-141, is directly increasing sexual desire in both males and females, and is currently in clinical tests. A scientific study on PT-141 is available at PNAS 101: 10201 (2004).

See also

• Inhibited sexual desire (frigidity)

External links

• UCLA Female Sexual Medicine Center: Sexual Arousal Disorder (SAD)