Treatment Option for Female Sexual Dysfunction

It's about time that women with sexual dysfunction are given some treatment options too. In their historic paper "Sexual Dysfunction in the United States," Edward O. Laumann, PhD, Anthony Paik, and Raymond C. Rosen, PhD, wrote that "sexual dysfunction is actually more common in women than men, with an estimated 43 percent of American women (40 million) experiencing some form of sexual disorder."

But what exactly is female sexual dysfunction (FSD)? In his book Sex Therapy: A Practical Guide (Oxford University Press, 1985), author Keith Hawton states, "Sexual dysfunction can be defined as the persistent impairment of a couple's normal or usual patterns of sexual interest and/or responses. FSD is characterized by one or more of the following symptoms: reduced or no clitoral sensation, reduced or no lubrication, and difficulty or inability to experience an orgasm. It includes disorders related to arousal, orgasm and pain, resulting in personal distress."

There are also other factors that can have an effect on sexual functioning, including relationship difficulties with a sexual partner, use of medications such as antidepressants, the presence of medical conditions that could affect sexual function (e.g., depression, anxiety, the first few weeks of the postpartum period), and sexual dysfunction on the part of the woman's partner.

A new treatment called Eros Therapy -- which consists of a small, handheld device -- is now available to combat FSD. According to the manufacturer's instructions, "a small, soft plastic cup is placed over the clitoris. When the Eros is turned on, a gentle vacuum is created, increasing blood flow to the genitalia causing the clitoris to become engorged. Increased blood flow to the genitalia results in increased vaginal lubrication and enhanced ability to achieve orgasm."

Dr. Eric Bieber and Maryann Schroder, PhD, while at the University of Chicago, studied Eros Therapy in 23 postmenopausal women who were experiencing the onset of FSD after menopause. The women used the Eros Therapy device on at least four occasions per week for three months. As reported in this week's Ob.Gyn. News, after three months, 20 of the 23 women had significantly improved sexual function.

Dr. Bieber concluded, "The improvement was almost unbelievable. In fact, if you showed me these results having not done the study, I'd have said it was unbelievable -- except I did the study and this is what we saw."

If you think Eros Therapy is for you, contact your gynecologist. The device is available by prescription from UroMetrics Inc. of St. Paul, Minn.