low sexual desire

Simple test can diagnose women with low sexual desire

Dr. Goldstein, who is also Editor-in-chief of The Journal of Sexual Medicine, says that many health care professionals are often reluctant to talk to their patients about sexual health for several reasons, including limited time with a patient, lack of training, embarrassment, and the absence of effective treatment options for women.

The entire test consists of the following questions that women answer with either a Yes or No:

1. In the past was your level of sexual desire or interest good or satisfying to you?
2. Has there been a decrease in your level of sexual desire or interest?
3. Are you bothered by your decreased level of sexual desire or interest?
4. Would you like your level of sexual desire or interest to increase?
5. Please check all the factors that you may feel may be contributing to your current decrease in sexual desire or interest:

• An operation, depression, injuries or other medical condition
• Medication, drugs or alcohol you are currently taking
• Pregnancy, recent childbirth, menopausal symptoms
• Other sexual issues you may be having such as pain, decreased arousal or orgasm
• Your partner’s sexual problems
• Dissatisfaction with your relationship or partner
• Stress or fatigue

If a woman says “No” to any of the questions in 1-4, then she does not qualify for the diagnosis of generalized acquired low sexual function. If the women answers “Yes” to questions 1-4 and “No” to the factors in question 5, then she may have generalized acquired low sexual desire.