Women's sexual dysfunction: a pathophysiological review

Sexual dysfunction (SD) in women is a multifactorial condition with anatomical, physiological, medical, psychological and social components. Well-designed, random-sample, community-based epidemiological investigations of women with SD are limited. Current data reveal that up to 76% of women have some type of SD [1,2]. Population census data from the USA suggest that approximate to 10 million American women aged 50-74 years self-report complaints of diminished vaginal lubrication, pain and discomfort during intercourse, decreased arousal, and difficulty achieving orgasm. Laumann et al. [3] found that SD is more prevalent in women (43%) than in men (31%), and is associated with various psycho-demographic characteristics, e. g. age, education, and poor physical and emotional health. More importantly, women's SD (WSD) is associated with negative experiences in sexual relationships. Recently, Brock et al. [4] reported the results of an international survey aimed at assessing both the prevalence and predictors of SD among mature men and women. Among a population of 4507 subjects, decreased sexual interest was reported by 34% of women and 18% of men; moreover, 19% of women and 11% of men reported that they did not consider sex pleasurable. Of the women interviewed, 23% reported inadequate lubrication, with a significant increase in this complaint in women aged 50-69 years [4].