What is Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD)?

Were you aware that a decline in sexual desire is the prevailing sexual concern among women in North America?

Roughly 1 in 10 women encounters a troubling decrease in sexual desire that persists regardless of their love for their partner or the nature of sexual stimuli received.

This condition is identified as Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD), also referred to as hyposexual desire disorder or low sexual desire disorder.

 

What are the symptoms of HSDD?

An estimated 38.7% of women encounter a lack of sexual desire. HSDD, characterized by persistent and distressing loss of sexual desire, affects approximately 10% of the population, translating to over 15 million women in North America!

Symptoms of hypoactive sexual desire disorder include:

1. Persistent, recurrent deficiency of sexual desire
2. Absence of sexual fantasies and desire for sexual activity
3. Marked distress or interpersonal difficulty not better accounted for by another sexual dysfunction disorder and not due exclusively to the direct effects of medication or a medical condition

 

How is HSDD treated?

The treatment of HSDD commences with a consultation with a licensed and empathetic physician. If diagnosed with HSDD or low sexual desire, your doctor may discuss various options with you.

1. Counseling/Sex Therapy – Addressing factors beyond biology, such as intimacy issues, physical health, and cultural norms, these options offer guidance for partners facing sexual incompatibilities or dysfunction. The focus may include educating patients about the body and sex or exploring how sexuality evolves with age.
2. Medication – Depending on your condition, your doctor may consider various options. In Canada, there is currently one approved drug for use in premenopausal women with acquired, generalized HSDD. Your doctor may prescribe this if your low sexual desire has persisted for at least six months, occurs 75-100% of the time, and causes marked distress or interpersonal difficulty.
3. Natural Therapies – Non-pharmacological interventions claim to assist with sexual desire, and your doctor can guide you in evaluating the benefits and risks of each.
4. Lifestyle Changes – A healthy diet and sufficient sleep have shown positive correlations with higher levels of sexual desire.

 

Can a doctor address HSDD on Laso MD?

Certainly. Doctors on Laso MD are equipped to diagnose, treat, and provide prescriptions for sexual health conditions.

Through an online consultation, the doctor will explore treatment options, assess the presence of any co-existing medical or psychiatric conditions, and consider the potential effects of medications or other substances to determine the most suitable course of treatment.