Akihabara Sites

Posts Tagged ‘Epidemiology of Female Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder’

There have been numerous well-conducted epidemiological studies of the prevalence of sexual problems in the United States, Europe, and globally [8]. These studies have used differing criteria for identifying sexual problems, yet have produced somewhat similar results. Most studies have found that complaints of low desire are the most common female sexual complaint. Studies have also found that complaints of low sexual desire increase with age, relationship duration, number of small children, relationship discord and symptoms of anxiety and depression [9–11]. These studies have been criticized as not distinguishing between sexual problems (transient issues not requiring medical intervention) and sexual dysfunction (persistent, pervasive problems in adaptation requiring medical intervention).

The limitations of epidemiological data in providing estimates of the frequency of sexual dysfunction in the general population can be appreciated by a careful analysis of the most comprehensive studies to date, the Global Study of Sexual Attitudes and Behavior [8]. This study collected data from 27,500 men and women in 29 countries. Sampling techniques had to be modified for some countries such that comparisons of rates across countries is somewhat problematic. The question pertaining to low sexual desire was ‘During the last 12 months have you ever experienced for a period of two months or more when you lacked interest in having sex?’ If the answer was affirmative, the subject was then asked to rate its frequency as occasionally, sometimes or frequently. This study has been quoted as finding that approximately 33% of women in Canada and the United States complained of low sexual desire. However, this number represents an aggregate of all women reporting occasional, periodic and frequent problems with low libido.