The FSD Controversy: Is FSD A "Real" or "Manufactured" Condition

Researchers estimate that up to 43 percent of the female population experiences sexual dysfunction at some point in their lives. Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a characterized by a lowered libido, lack of sexual desire, possible pain during intercourse, and/or the inability to reach orgasm in women. Female sexual dysfunction is a complex issue, as the female libido is intrinsically linked to emotional intimacy. Relationships, hormones, emotions and stress all play a factor in the female libido and a woman's ability to achieve intimacy.

Over-Diagnosis and FSD

Some experts question the alleged prevalence of sexual dysfunction in women, since the symptoms are highly generalized and could stem from a number of causes. Since FSD does not have a strict biological cause, researchers argue that it is over-diagnosed. Many experts have posed the question – if a woman is disinterested in sex, does she necessarily have a "disease" or disorder?
 
Decreases in the female libido due to menopause or childbirth are normal. A woman also may have lost interest in sex simply because she is no longer attracted to her partner or experiencing high stress levels in her personal life. Just because a woman is disinterested in sex or she has trouble having an orgasm does not mean that she has a disease.

Pharmaceutical Companies and FSD

In recent years, several drug companies have created products that have been marketed to treat female sexual dysfunction. Some medical doctors and psychologists assert that these pharmaceutical companies exploit women suffering from a complex range of psychological and emotional symptoms, including stress, hormone-related problems and issues relating to personal relationships.
 
Proponents of this stance contend that pharmaceutical companies are deliberately misrepresenting FSD as a medical condition, rather than one stemming from emotional or psychological difficulties. Many feel that pharmaceutical companies are more concerned with cornering the drug market with a specific sex-enhancing drug for women than tackling the underlying problems relating to women's health and sexuality.

Pharmaceutical Treatment for Female Sexual Dysfunction

Many experts that research FSD, as well as drug development companies that study the treatment of the disease, differ in their perception of FSD. They argue that drugs can be developed to help women achieve sexual satisfaction and heighten the female libido. Female sexual dysfunction can cause stress and anxiety in a relationship and a return to a healthy sex life can heighten emotional intimacy as well as help a woman regain her sexual health, they argue.
 
Geoff Cook of Pfizer Pharmaceuticals finds the idea that pharmaceutical companies have fabricated the condition "an insult to women suffering from this problem."
 
So, does the medical condition FSD exist? Or was it manufactured by the pharmaceutical giants in order to generate profit?

Treating Female Sexual Dysfunction

Not until recently has FSD been recognized as a treatable condition. Women with sexual dysfunction were previously simply labeled as "frigid." Many of these women now feel comfortable seeking medical advice, since labeling the disorder can reduce stigma and help women see their issue as a treatable condition.
 
There is much more to treating female sexual dysfunction than medication. Typically, other methods are explored before a woman begins taking drugs. Depending on her symptoms, a woman suffering from FSD may be encouraged to:
  • avoid alcohol and nicotine, which can dull sexual response and limit blood flow throughout the body
  • begin a diet or exercise routine, which can help with body image, stamina, and mood
  • communicate openly and honestly with her partner
  • learn techniques for relaxing and managing stress.
  • perform pelvic floor and kegel exercises, which can strengthen vaginal muscles and increase stimulation during intercourse
  • seek help if she is suffering from depression and/or anxiety

Drugs for Boosting Female Libido

Male libido is easier to define than female libido, and it is therefore easier to treat sexual dysfunction in men. Erectile dysfunction can be cured in many cases by taking drugs such as Viagra®, which help to promote blood flow to the genitals, or hormone-based products containing testosterone.
 
Most new-generation drugs aimed at curing FSD are hormone-based and designed to raise women's levels of sexual energy and ability to orgasm. In other words, these drugs focus largely on the physical symptoms of FSD rather than the psychological factors.
 
Lack of female libido, however, often tends to stem from psychological issues, such as stress, lack of emotional intimacy, and poor relationships with partners, rather than straightforward physical problems. Sometimes women seek a medical cure for sexual problems when the root of the problem is emotional. For women, therefore, there is rarely a quick-fix solution.
 
According to John Bancroft, Director of the Kinsey Institute, to date women's health research has focused mainly on the physical aspects of female sexuality and sexual dysfunction. Results of this research underscore the "importance of non-physiological components of sexuality as well as the general importance of mental health." Significantly, the study concluded that the percentage of women suffering from FSD was nearer 25 percent, a far lower figure than the generally accepted statistic of 43 percent.
 
Which side is "right"? It may take years and numerous research studies and clinical trials before that question is answered. If you or your partner are suffering from sexual dysfunction, talk to your doctor. It’s important to know the cause of the problem in order to begin proper treatment.
 
Resources
 
Callahan, R. (2003). Study: Women's sex problems overestimated. Retrieved January 22, 2003, from the Chicago Sun-Times Web site: www.suntimes.com/output/health/cst-nws-sex19.html.
 
Gorney, C. (2002). Designing women. Retrieved January 22, 2003, fromthe Washington Post Web site: www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A61747-2002Jun28&notFound=true.
 
James, B. (2003). Drug firms accused of inventing female malady. Retrieved January 22, 2003, from The International Herald Tribune Web site: www.iht.com/ihtsearch.php?id=82226&owner=(International%20Herald%20Tribune)&date=20030106133738.
 
Moynihan, Ray (2005). The marketing of a disease: female sexual dysfunction. Retrieved December 1, 2008, from the BMJ Web site: http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/330/7484/192.
 
Proctor and Gamble (2008). Desire and menopause: Glossary. Retrieved December 1, 2008, from the Desire and Menopause Web Site: http://www.desireandmenopause.co.uk/glossary/.
 
Thomas, J. (2003). Female sexual dysfunction: Fact or fiction? Retrieved January 22, 2003, from the HON News Web site: www.hon.ch/News/HSN/511119.html.