Abstract
Sexuality is a basic human need, which is expressed in the context of intimate personal relations. However, in studies of women’s sexuality, men’s attitudes are often overlooked. Health care providers can benefit from the examination of how both women and men perceive women’s sexual desire and what are the most acceptable avenues for treatment for women’s hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). This research aimed to explore differences between women and men on the factors affecting women’s sexual desire and the appropriate avenues for treatment. Data were collected using an online questionnaire from 233 heterosexual adults who had a dyadic, steady intimate relationship over most of the previous year. A theory-based questionnaire of 28 items was developed to explore the factors associated with women’s sexual desire. One quarter (7/28) of the items affecting women’s sexual desire were ranked significantly differently between women and men. Among women, interpersonal issues and physical attraction, and among men, physical attraction and daily hassles were the significant predictors of women’s sexual desire. Women more than men endorsed psychological help such as a sex therapist or psychologist as a more appropriate treatment for HSDD, while both men and women viewed the internet as a reasonable way to gain treatment information. Both women and men viewed gynecologists as a more acceptable source of treatment than a family doctor. Religious authorities were the least likely source of treatment advice for both women and men. The results support a multi-dimensional model of women’s sexual desire and suggest that psychological interventions to treat HSDD may be preferred by women more than men.
Highlights
Sexual desire is defined as a motivational state to engage in sexual activities or aninterest in a sexual partner, or partners and common sexual activities [1]
We further explore the factors that are identified by women and men as affecting, both positively and negatively, women’s sexual desire and how men and women feel that women should receive treatment for reduced sexual desire
Women were more likely to seek psychological help for matters that distressed them than men, and this is in accordance to what we found in our research [46]
Summary
Sexual desire is defined as a motivational state to engage in sexual activities or aninterest in a sexual partner, or partners and common sexual activities [1]. Sexual desire can be dyadic (interest in engaging in sexual activity with another person) or solitary (interest in engaging in sexual behavior by oneself) [1]. We focus on dyadic sexual desire that consists mainly of wanting to engage in sexual activity in relation to a partner [2]. Brotto defined HSDD as a persistent or recurrent deficit of sexual fantasies and desire for sexual activity in concordance with the DSM-IV-TR (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders—4th edition, Text Revision) [4]. This was the definition used in the current study
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