When I first wrote about FSAD some time ago, I had a number of comments from readers, both saying some version of “finally, a lone voice in the wilderness,” to “you don’t know my wife.”
A recent question from a reader egged me on to revisit the topic, partly because she was sure I was trying to say there is no such thing Read More→
Sphere: Related ContentIf you are a couple for whom sex has lost a priority position, it’s both frustrating and challenging to figure out just how you got into this position.
The standard catch phrase for many couples is some version of “we’ve grown apart.”
Easy to do, and it will take Read More→
Sphere: Related ContentWhen I first wrote about FSAD last year, I had a number of comments from readers, saying some version of “finally, a lone voice in the wilderness,” to “you don’t know my wife.”
A recent question from a reader egged me on to revisit the topic, partly because she was sure I was trying to say there is no such thing as FSAD, Female Sexual Affective Disorder.
So, let’s get that cleared up right away. Read More→
Sphere: Related ContentWomen’s orgasms have been the butt of comics, trashy movies, and even the press.
It’s a common belief that men give their women orgasms, and all orgasms stop with menopause.
Neither of those beliefs are true. Yet many women, especially older women who have already been through menopause are sure that their time for orgasms are over. Or, if you are one of those women who have never had an orgasm, you may well be sure you never will.
Again, not true. Read More→
Sphere: Related ContentTrying to understand how many women have FSAD is like trying to get an accurate number for how many man have ED.
Most of us haven’t even heard of it….Female Sexual Affective Disorder. (For more information about how it was defined...see this post.)
The answer is…it all depends on who asks and how they ask. And then analyzing the results you get.
Before we get into research issues though, let’s be clear: there are both men who have ED and women who have FSAD. From medical causes, from emotional issues, and of course, relationship difficulties.
But, and this is the big issue, for both men and women, there are incidence statistics all over the map. Depending on how it is defined, measured, or the numbers interpreted, there could be “the majority of men/women are suffering because of (insert cause here)” to “few men/women actually have this problem, the rest are included to increase the opportunity to sell a solution.”
For all men and women, there are times that they “just don’t feel like it.”
Maybe because of stress in their life, a bad cold, or plain old fatigue from a very demanding day.
Could this really be FSAD…or just really being tired out?
Or, could there have been an angry blow up in a relationship that is by and large in good shape. Then, sex is off the table.
Hard to characterize this as FSAD.
How about a lingering bladder infection, or trouble with “jock itch (for either men or women!), or any one of a number of annoying everyday medical issues that leaves most of us feeling like…no sex tonight.
I haven’t even mentioned the side effects of medications…especially high blood pressure, heart conditions, and, my personal pet peeve, psychiatric drugs…especially for depression.
Let’s see….I am feeling really down, so give me something that takes away my libido. Talk about a double whammy…especially for women who have been prescribed tranquilizers or anti-depressants for a situtional issue and are still taking them six to ten years later.
No wonder they aren’t interested in sex…
Add a bad case of menopause…a young adult child moving back in with their spouse or baby…and the list can go on.
FSAD is real…it does happen…but like ED, in too many cases it has become one more opportunity for the drug companies to advertise, the media to have more ad revenue, and the public to ask for medication from physicians who are so stretch they have precious little time to figure out what is really going on, and since the patient asked for it…might as well try it.
Don’t fall into the trap of being diagnosed with an “illness/condition” that has become a disorder just because there are drugs that can benefit from a bigger patient pool.
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