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Chapter 28 - Female Sexual Dysfunctions

from Section 5 - Post-Reproductive Care

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 November 2021

By
Johannes Bitzer
Edited by
Tahir Mahmood ,
Charles Savona-Ventura ,
Ioannis Messinis  and
Sambit Mukhopadhyay
Tahir Mahmood
Affiliation:
Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy
Charles Savona-Ventura
Affiliation:
University of Malta, Malta
Ioannis Messinis
Affiliation:
University of Thessaly, Greece
Sambit Mukhopadhyay
Affiliation:
Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital, UK
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Summary

Female sexual dysfunctions are classified into four groups: motivation, interest or desire disorders, arousal disorder, orgasmic disorders, pain disorders. Most of these disorders are caused by the interaction of different biological, psychological, interpersonal and sociocultural factors. Diagnosis and treatment has to be based on this biopsychosocial model. Diagnosis is a process that includes medical history and examination, but also patient-centred interviewing, biographic and sexual history as well as narrative elements. These elements are put together into a comprehensive explanatory diagnosis that serves as the basis for a multidisciplinary therapeutic plan.

The available therapies include hormonal treatments (oestrogens, testosterone, tibolone, etc.), drug treatment (PDE inhibitors, centrally acting drugs) and psychotherapeutic interventions (body awareness, sensate focus, mindfulness training, systemic therapy, post-traumatic therapy).

Keywords

dysfunctionfemale sexual response phasesneurobiologypsychology
Type
Chapter
Information
The EBCOG Postgraduate Textbook of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Gynaecology
 , pp. 227 - 236
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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