With all the commerical hype over erectile dysfunction--the incessant advertising for Viagra and whatever medicine it is that makes the guy leave his swim trunks in the pool--it's surprising to remember that hey, we women have problems, too. I'm not talking about those problems, or those ones, either (okay, we have a lot of problems), I'm talking about the equally gendered problem of sexual
Female sexual dysfunction encompasses a wide range of female sexual difficulties, including problems with libido, arousal, climax, and pain during or after sex. The causes of female sexual dysfunction are varied and complex, but most commonly have to do with hormonal and chemical fluctuations, psychological and emotional stress and anxiety, and physical problems of the sexual organs. (A more detailed note on causes can be found in the sidebar to the left.) As such, the treatment of female sexual dysfunction is equally complex and will likely require a lot of time and energy. But it's worth it, right? Our suggestions here for getting rid of female sexual dysfunction are by no means a complete and final prescription, but rather a generalized compilation of what we've found in our own research. female sexual dysfunction is a deeply personal issue, and getting rid of it will therefore be a deeply personal and intricate process of applying broader treatments to the details of your own life and well-being, biological and psychological.
Dealing with Female Sexual Dysfunction
Know and care for your psychological and emotional health to treat your female sexual dysfunction. Your sense of well-being can and will directly affect your sexual health, so if you're off-balance mentally and emotionally, chances are you will be sexually, too. Restoring your mental and emotional balance (and hopefully getting rid of your female sexual dysfunction) can mean taking time to nurture yourself and your needs every day (it sounds simple, but too many women forget to do this too often), or even trying professional therapy to work through deeper issues. Take the time to really think about what you need to do help yourself mentally and emotionally to get rid of your female sexual dysfunction for good.
Reduce stress and anxiety in your life to get rid of your female sexual dysfunction. Female sexual dysfunction can be a natural psychosomatic response to being too busy, too tired, and too worried in your daily life, so sit down and figure out what it is that is making you busy, exhausted, and anxious all the time Research has shown that female sexual dysfunction is highest in women in poor socioeconomic situations, and/or strugging with physical or mental health issues. If you are dealing with problems such as these, or other problems that just can't be easily fixed, take steps to combat these sources of stress and anxiety with energy and peace: get some exercise, take a walk, write in a journal, make some art, talk to a friend, get a massage, treat yourself to something special, slow down for a little while and look for something to be joyful about. 
Hormone therapy can improve and get rid of female sexual dysfunction. Natural (menopause and perimenopause) and unnatural (birth control) fluctuations in your hormone levels can cause symptoms of female sexual dysfunction such as reduced sex drive, arousal, and sensitivity, as well as vaginal dryness and ability to orgasm.Hormone replacement therapy uses estrogen (oral and topical, usually for specifically physical complaints like vaginal dryness) and pregestogens to stabilize your hormones and return your sexual functioning and satisfaction to normal. Talk to a medical professional you trust about hormone therapy to get rid of you female sexual dysfunction.
Reviewing and revising your medicinal and chemical intake can help to get rid of female sexual dysfunction. Many non-prescription and prescription medicines can cause and influence female sexual dysfunction, including colds and allergy medications, blood pressure medications, birth control and hormone replacements, and medications that effect the nervious systems, usually to treat psychiatric conditions such as depression. SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), commonly used to treat depression (such as Prozac or Paxil), pms, and anxiety, have been found to frequently cause sexual dysfunction in men and women. If you are on an SSRI and think it might be causing your female sexual dysfunction, talk to your mental health care provider about your options, which may include taking a "drug holiday" (reducing or eliminating your medication for 2-3 days to look for s improvement), and trying an alternate dosage or medication known to have little or no sexual side effects, such as Wellbutrin.
As strange as it may sound, regular sexual activity can help to reduce the symptoms of female sexual dysfunction. Masters and Johnson, the pioneers of sexual research, found that regular sexual activity helps female sexual health by maintaining vaginal chemcial balance and genital blood flow. A succesful treatment plan of female sexual dysfunction should definitely include regular sexual activity; so find creative ways to keep yourself regularly sexual, on your own (I really hope I don't need to explain that) or with your partner. At the risk of sound pithy and cliche, I guess practice really does make perfect.Medical Treatment for Female Sexual Dysfunction
While there is no prescription medication designed specifically to treat female sexual dysfunction in the United States, there is research and development being done to provide women with their own version. Tibolone, an oral medication taken as hormone replacement therapy, is currently available in Europe in Australia to treat female sexual dysfunction and may be approved by the FDA for commerical use in the US soon. Treatment of female sexual dysfunction with viagra is currently being evaluated, with initial findings of positive effects, such as improved arousal and ability to orgasm.
Until a prescription medication for female sexual dysfunction is approved, continue working with your doctor to find a treatment, or combination of treatments that works for you. Your sexual health is definitely worth the time and energy.
