Most women suffering from low sexual desire fail to seek proper treatment for their condition, a new study finds.
The study was conducted by Sheryl A. Kingsberg, PhD, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine (Cleveland, OH). Previous studies have found that low sexual desire is very common among pre and post-menopause women.
As common as it may be, it is not good for a woman's health. Not only does it personal distress and harms relationships, it also has a a negative impact on body image and self confidence. Despite this, women fail to seek proper medical attention for their condition. The authors of this new study looked into the reason as to why women are hesitant to opt for treatment.
For the study, researchers conducted a survey of women's attitudes toward low sexual desire and their awareness of its treatability as a medical condition. They found that more than one-quarter of premenopausal and one-third of post-menopausal women were very dissatisfied with their current level of sexual desire. What was surprising was the fact that most of these women had not their low sexual desire with their health care providers because they felt uncomfortable or embarrassed or were not aware that it is a treatable condition.
"Given the prevalence of low sexual desire in women and the important role that sexual function plays in women's lives, healthcare providers should recognize female sexual function as an integral part of health and well-being," said Susan G. Kornstein, MD, Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Women's Health, Executive Director of the Virginia Commonwealth University Institute for Women's Health, Richmond, VA, and President of the Academy of Women's Health, in a press statement.
The study titled "Attitudinal Survey of Women Living with Low Sexual Desire" was published online in the Journal of Women's Health.
