How is HSDD treated?

Hypoactive sexual desire disorder is a complicated condition—with many underlying concerns. Patricia Geraghty, MSN, WHNP, discusses the complexity of the disorder and what can be done to combat it.

Transcript

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Hypoactive sexual desire disorder can cause personal and relationship problems. [MUSIC PLAYING]

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While both men and women can have hypoactive sexual desire disorder, my area of practice is women.

00:19

In one study, about a third of women had clinical depression. Other contributing factors included poor general health,

00:26

leaking of urine. Of course, many also reported psychological or social dissatisfaction with their lives or relationships.

00:35

These underlying conditions should all be treated. That's why a team, including gynecology or urology,

00:42

counseling, and even specialized sexual medicine, is the best treatment. Then, if there are residual symptoms and distress,

00:49

we keep working. Many of my patients will ask me about testing hormones. Interestingly, there's very little

00:56

match between hormone levels and the presence or the severity of hypoactive sexual desire disorder.

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Women post menopause even have more testosterone dominance than prior to menopause. It's a simplification, but I call the sex steroids the stage

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managers of sexuality. They develop the genital area and contribute to keeping it healthy.

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However, desire is much more complicated. The neuroendocrine drivers of desire are more central nervous system activity.

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The brain, serotonin, endocannabinoids, and opiates tend to disrupt sexual desire,

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while other neurotransmitters, norepinephrine, dopamine, and oxytocin, are stimulatory.