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After discussing sex disorders in class, I decided to go look deeper into what is out there. Many sex disorders we discussed in class are more likely to be in men than women. Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) is actually a disorder that is very likely to happen to women. This article discusses what HSDD is, what causes HSDD, if it can be treated, some questions to ask yourself to see if you may have HSDD, and what kids of treatments may be used to help treat HSDD. What I found to be most fascinating is the pill that doctors can give women with HSDD to help increase their sexual desire. Do you think that this is just a way to make women want sex more/be more pleasurable to their husbands? Why or why not?

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Sometimes you want sex, sometimes you don't. That's normal. Every woman has her own level of what is considered "normal" based on their own experiences and biological drive. But when a woman has a low libido or low sexual desire and is bothered by this lack of interest in sex, she may have a condition called hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD).

HSDD is defined as the absence of sexual fantasies and thoughts, and/or desire for or receptivity to, sexual activity that causes the personal distress or difficulties in her relationship. This distress is an important component. After all, some women with what is considered a low libido may not have any distress or problems with a partner as a result.

While prevalence rates vary, The Society for Women's Health Research estimates that about one in ten women have HSDD, making it one of the most common female sexual difficulties.

What causes HSDD?

There are many potential causes, both physical and psychological.

There are a number of physical conditions associated with HSDD, including breast cancer, diabetes, depression, urinary incontinence, thyroid problems, and multiple sclerosis, among others.

An imbalance of neurotransmitters (chemicals) in the brain may be the cause, as the chemicals that can cause (or inhibit) sexual desire and excitement may be out of balance.

Diminished libido may be a side effect of certain medications, including medications used to treat depression, anxiety and high blood pressure, as well as some medications to treat pain.

Relationship issues may play a role for some women. If there is conflict or a lack of trust in a relationship, women may lose interest in sex with that partner as a result. (Although it should be noted that a woman may experience HSDD and not be in a relationship).

Some psychological conditions may be associated with the development of HSDD, including depression, anxiety and low self-esteem.

Can HSDD be treated?

HSDD is treatable and can be manageable, so the first step if you are concerned about a lack of interest in sex is to talk to a healthcare provider to see what options are available. The provider may ask a series of questions called the Decreased Sexual Desire Screener (DSDS) to help diagnose HSDD. The first four questions are:

1. In the past, was your level of sexual desire/interest good and satisfying to you?

2. Has there been a decrease in your level of sexual desire/interest?

3. Are you bothered by your decreased level of sexual desire/interest?

4. Would you like your level of sexual desire/interest to increase?

If a woman answers 'no' to any of these questions, she likely will not be diagnosed with HSDD. If she answers 'yes' to these, she will also be asked about other factors that may be contributing to her low desire, including physical and mental health conditions, recent childbirth, her relationship with her partner, her level of stress and fatigue, and other issues.

Treatment may include sex therapy or counseling, alone or with a woman's partner, to address any mental health or relationship issues that may be present. Medications may be evaluated as contributing factors, and underlying medical conditions may be addressed.

For women who have not yet gone through menopause, there is a single FDA-approved treatment for HSDD called flibanserin. This drug works on neurotransmitters, or chemicals, in the brain that are related to sexual excitement. When these chemicals in the brain are out of balance, the result can be a diminished level of sexual interest and desire. Flibansarin, taken as a once-daily pill helps to keep these chemicals in balance.

Find a Healthcare Provider

There is help for HSDD. You can use the search tool below to look for providers who specialize in women's sexual health difficulties, including HSDD. Enter your zip code in the search box to find the closest provider to you, as well as telemedicine options.

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Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder | American Sexual Health Association

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Sometimes you want sex, sometimes you don't. That's normal. Every woman has her own level of what is considered "normal" based on their own experiences and biological drive. But when a woman has a low libido or low sexual desire and is bothered by this lack of interest in sex, she may have a condition ...

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Is Homosexuality in Your Genes?
Recently, scientists have found two gene variants that are more common in homosexual men than heterosexual men. This discovery supports the idea that homosexuality is genetic. There were already some chromosome regions that were found to be correlated with homosexuality, but this time researchers found specific genes (not just regions) on the 13th and 14th chromosomes. The video goes into more depth about the genes, what the affect, and how they are correlated to gay men. The video also goes into depth about how there is no research on women's genes being correlated with homosexuality.

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A Virtual Initiative for Busy Married Couples
Back in 2015, the Bishop of Arlington named Paul Loverde created a married couple's retreat online. Reverend Loverde posts 15 minute videos for busy married couples to watch to help keep their marriages alive. A couple talks about their experience with the videos.

Have you ever heard of this before?
Do you think this is a good idea for married couples who are very busy? Why/Why not?
Would you try this for your marriage?

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A Virtual Initiative for Busy Married Couples

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Should you admit to an affair that's over? According to Dr. Victoria Wilson, a clinical psychologist, you should not admit to an affair that is already over unless you believe that your partner already suspects the affair. Dr. Wilson believes that telling a partner about an affair that has already ended will only cause pain and conflict in the relationship. She said that if you are having trouble dealing with guilt and your feelings about having cheated, then you should find a way to deal with your feelings without telling your partner about the affair.

Because she is a clinical psychologist, would you follow her advice? Why/Why not?

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Should You Admit an Affair That's Over? | Jealousy & Affairs

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This video talks about previous  studies that have supported the idea that couples should not cohabitate before marriage. They point out that a current study has supported the idea that premarital cohabitation actually does not contribute to divorce BUT the age of the individuals does.

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Is Living Together Before Marriage Better?

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This article discusses some topics that were in our chapter and some things that not many people would know unless they took a sexuality class. Some "facts" they list may not be real facts, but they discuss what they think to be true. The article goes over penis size, realistic sex duration, orgasms, what can be bad for male genitals, and some other interesting topics.

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9 Things You Didn't Know About Male Anatomy - Erectile Dysfunction Center -Everyday Health

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Starting with the penis, there are some interesting things you should know about the male anatomy. Here are nine surprising facts about a man's private parts.

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Guessing Facts About the Female Anatomy. Padlet #2

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Guessing Facts About the Female Anatomy. Padlet #2

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Warning: There are curse words.
A high school male tries to guess random facts about the female anatomy. Surprisingly, he does pretty well for not knowing much about female anatomy. I didn't know some of the answers to the questions that were asked, but I found the questions to cover a wide area of the female sexual anatomy.

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guessing facts about the female anatomy: MY FIRST YOUTUBE VIDEO

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Sexual culture has changed so much in such a short period of time. Just 40 or 50 years ago teens were very closely monitored by their parents in all aspects of their life. Slowly over time parenting became a hassle and kids became more independent and undisciplined. As this process progressed, kids started turning to their friends and eventually the internet for sexual guidance. Now, parents rarely talk to their kids about sex because “it’s awkward” or “the school will teach them about it”. This leads to teens learning about sex from pornography and other unreliable internet sources, because it’s not cool to talk to their parental figure about their sex life. Often teens will leave their phone laying around and their younger sibling will pick it up and see pornography or other sex related content. This causes kids to know about sex and unrealistic sexual encounters at a younger and younger age. This all leads to kids starting to have sex or start sexual acts at a younger age than most other generations.

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The unsexy truth, the hookup culture | Lisa Bunnage | TEDxSFU