The Female Sexual Dysfunction Myth

Can a Little Pill Cure FSD?

The Cleveland Clinic defines sexual dysfunction as "a problem during any phase of the sexual response cycle that prevents the individual or couple from experiencing satisfaction from the sexual activity". The sexual response cycle is defined as having four phases: excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution. What are some of the problems that can interfere with the sexual response cycle?

Some physical causes can include such things as pregnancy, fatigue, pelvic surgery, sexually transmitted disease, as well as menopause, hormonal imbalance, and "blood floor disorders". Psychological factors can include stress, past sexual trauma, boredom, depression, lack of experience, and inhibitions. Having just one of these symptoms can contribute to a diagnosis of "Female Sexual Dysfunction".

According to the Mayo Clinic four in ten women "experience at least one sexual problem. In medical circles, this is known as sexual dysfunction." The Clinic reports that fatigue and stress from work and home can cause disinterest in sex, which constitutes a problem and therefore a "dysfunction". Dr. Leonore Tiefer calls these kinds of definitions "disease-mongering". Disease-mongering was defined by Lynn Payer as "trying to convince essentially well people that they are sick or slightly ill people that they are very ill". Dr. Tiefer argues that some in the medical and the pharmaceutical communities encourage the overuse of Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD) as a diagnosis to increase drug sales and research funding. Some very common ailments fall under the FSD umbrella.

Many of the cause of FSD either don't need treatment or can be treated in ways that have long been established by the medical community. For instance, one cause of FSD is pelvic surgery. Lack of interest in sex and pain during intercourse should be expected after an invasive procedure such as this. Treatment in this case would simply be time for healing and perhaps, in the long term, physical therapy. However, with a diagnosis of FSD, perhaps a patient may be more willing to try an experimental drug or treatment.