Women do not talk about lack of sexual desire

Silence prevents making diagnoses in women with lack of sexual desire and it hinders the development of medications for treatment of such problems. There are millions of women who lack sexual desire.

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This is actually a type of women’s sexual problems which are defined by experts as decreased interest in sexual needs and desires, absence of thinking or sexual fantasies and lack of response. Women with such problems are very often in distress and they have difficulties in interpersonal relationships, and they often do not know that  such a state can be the result od neurobiological, hormonal and psychosocial factors, or even a combination of them.

According to the data published this week at the annual meeting of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, every tenth woman has problems with lack of sexual desire, and only one third of them seek advice or help of a health care worker. Lack of sexual desire is a common but rarely diagnosed medical problem, which can cause worsening of the quality of life. It causes psychological problems in women and it also causes deterioration in the relationship with the partner.



According to the statements of the recognised expert for healthy sexuality, Dr. Sheryl Kingsberg, sex is an everday topic in conversation in media and in society, but women mention their sexual problems quite seldom. The consequences of the distress of women when lacking sexual desires are measurable. This state influences almost every area of their lives and the consequences may become a permanent reason for concern. “Both patients and phycisians can feel uncomfortable in conversation about their sexual activities, but we have to encourage women to seek advice or help when they are in distress,” emphasised Dr. Sheryl Kingsberg.

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In normal sex life,  an important role is played by  neurotransmitters in the brain as well as sexual hormones. Although hormonal treatment may help some women – for example, the women who were in menopause or they had the ovaries or the uterus surgically removed – the brain is the centre of sexual responses. And such a way of treatment is not nearly sufficient for millions of women with limited problems.

The good news is there  will be a research programme carried out under the joint title ‘Bouquet’, based on which scientists will try to improve research of less known medical states. Among them also lack of sexual desire in women.

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The results of the Bouquet study will be published at the end of 2008 or in the beginning of 2009. In any case, this will present an important step in understanding this frequent medical problem, and the answers will perhaps raise hopes to millions of women and their partners, who are affected by lack of sexual desire.