Subjective Sexual Desire Research Articles

Fundamental frequency of the female's voice: A cross-country empirical study on its influence on social and sexual selection

Recent studies demonstrate that voice (in particular, its fundamental frequency -Fo-) may influence on social and sexual selection. Here, we tested how the Fo of female's voice is related to different aspects of social and sexual selection through a novel experimental approach. First, we recorded and measured the Fo of 22 women reading a neutral text in Spanish language. Six of these voices were selected and classified into three categories: voices with a low Fo (<175 Hz), medium Fo (between 175–225 Hz) and high Fo (>225 Hz). Then, these voices were rated by two independent samples including both men and women: one comprised of native Spanish-speakers (n = 683) and the other comprised of native Italian non-Spanish-speakers (n = 484). Contrarily to what we hypothesized, voices with an average Fo were rated as more feminine and attractive, aroused a greater subjective sexual desire in men, and were more strongly related to the desire to engage in a friendship in women. These findings were independent of the sex of the respondents, as well as of the country in which the study was carried out.

106 Online Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Group Program for Women with Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder: A Descriptive Feasibility Study

Persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD) is a highly distressing, and poorly understood condition characterized by physiological genital arousal (i.e., genital sensitivity and/or vascongestion) in the absence of subjective sexual desire. Currently there are no empirically-informed treatment options available to this population, despite the significant negative impact of the condition (Jackowich, Pink, Gordon, Poirier & Pukall, 2018). Few healthcare providers are knowledgeable about PGAD, making it challenging for individuals with PGAD to receive information and care. To determine the feasibility of an adapted physical therapy group educational program for vulvar pain conditions, to the specific needs of women with PGAD, in an online group format. Ethical approval was provided by [MASKED] University. A descriptive approach was undertaken to evaluate the feasibility of this group. A total of 12 women participated in the study (average age = 43.4 years, SD = 18.3, Range = 18-71). Phone screenings were conducted to confirm that individuals experienced PGAD (defined by its clinical presentation: Leiblum & Nathan, 2001). Women completed questionnaires prior to, immediately following, and 6-months following the group sessions. Participants also completed an anonymous feedback form. The group sessions were run by a registered physical therapist specializing in pain and pelvic floor health.

Genital Sensations in Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder: A Case for an Overarching Nosology of Genitopelvic Dysesthesias?

Persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD) is a highly distressing and poorly understood condition characterized by unwanted sensations of genital arousal in the absence of subjective sexual desire. Research has shown that some individuals with PGAD also report orgasm, urinary, and pain symptoms, with 1 recent study specifically comparing a "painful persistent genital arousal symptom" group to a "non-painful persistent genital arousal symptom" group on various indicators given the highly frequent report of comorbid genitopelvic pain in their sample. To review literature on PGAD focusing on the presence of pain symptoms. A literature review through May 2018 was undertaken to identify articles that discuss pain characteristics in individuals with persistent sexual arousal syndrome, persistent genital arousal disorder, symptoms of persistent genital arousal, and restless genital syndrome. A review of pain/discomfort associated with persistent genital arousal, and the proposal of a new theoretical framework of genitopelvic dysesthesias. PGAD is a distressing condition that is associated with a significant, negative impacts on psychosocial and daily functioning. Although it is clear that unwanted and persistent genital arousal is the hallmark symptom of PGAD, symptoms of pain and discomfort are also frequently reported. Based on the results of this review, a model of genitopelvic dysesthesias is proposed, with subcategories of unpleasant sensations that are based on patients' primary complaint: arousal, arousal and pain, or pain (and other sensations). The proposed model can provide an important framework for conceptualizing conditions characterized by unpleasant genitopelvic sensations. A model such as this one can benefit highly misunderstood conditions that are questioned in terms of their legitimacy and severity-such as PGAD-by conceptualizing them as sensory disorders, which in turn can reduce stigma, unify research efforts, and potentially improve access to care. Pukall CF, Jackowich R, Mooney K, etal. Genital Sensations in Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder: A Case for an Overarching Nosology of Genitopelvic Dysesthesias? Sex Med Rev 2019;7:2-12.

Managed Not Missing

Our article describes findings from a project exploring sexual agency and desire among young women, focusing on the negotiation of sexuality within relationship contexts. Adopting a social constructionist framework, we used discourse analysis to examine semi-structured, audio-taped interviews with 39 Canadian young women (aged 18–26). Three related interpretive repertoires were identified, namely, (a) Sex as Relationship Hygiene (i.e., beneficial to the health of one’s relationship), (b) Sex as Exercise-esque (i.e., part of a wellness regime), and (c) Sex as Economy Exchange (i.e., a commodifiable practice within the heterosexual marketplace). Desire was not absent from participants’ accounts, however, it was channeled into specific forms of sexual expression and mediated by multiple and competing cultural imperatives. The interpretive repertoires provided spaces for agentic sex within which subjective sexual desire was not the primary motive but rather was subordinate to a rhetoric of self- and relationship improvement as a key register of sexuality. We discuss these findings in the context of postfeminist directives about sexual desirability and proficiency that young women must traverse as they develop ideas about successful female sexuality within heterosexual relationships.

Neural correlates of sexual cue reactivity in individuals with and without compulsive sexual behaviours.

Although compulsive sexual behaviour (CSB) has been conceptualized as a “behavioural” addiction and common or overlapping neural circuits may govern the processing of natural and drug rewards, little is known regarding the responses to sexually explicit materials in individuals with and without CSB. Here, the processing of cues of varying sexual content was assessed in individuals with and without CSB, focusing on neural regions identified in prior studies of drug-cue reactivity. 19 CSB subjects and 19 healthy volunteers were assessed using functional MRI comparing sexually explicit videos with non-sexual exciting videos. Ratings of sexual desire and liking were obtained. Relative to healthy volunteers, CSB subjects had greater desire but similar liking scores in response to the sexually explicit videos. Exposure to sexually explicit cues in CSB compared to non-CSB subjects was associated with activation of the dorsal anterior cingulate, ventral striatum and amygdala. Functional connectivity of the dorsal anterior cingulate-ventral striatum-amygdala network was associated with subjective sexual desire (but not liking) to a greater degree in CSB relative to non-CSB subjects. The dissociation between desire or wanting and liking is consistent with theories of incentive motivation underlying CSB as in drug addictions. Neural differences in the processing of sexual-cue reactivity were identified in CSB subjects in regions previously implicated in drug-cue reactivity studies. The greater engagement of corticostriatal limbic circuitry in CSB following exposure to sexual cues suggests neural mechanisms underlying CSB and potential biological targets for interventions.

Hormonal predictors of sexual motivation in natural menstrual cycles

Little is known regarding which hormonal signals may best predict within- and between-women variance in sexual motivation among naturally cycling women. To address this, we collected daily saliva samples across 1–2 menstrual cycles from a sample of young women; assayed samples for estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone; and also collected daily diary reports of women's sexual behavior and subjective sexual desire. With respect to within-cycle, day-to-day fluctuations in subjective desire, we found evidence for positive effects of estradiol and negative effects of progesterone. Desire exhibited a mid-cycle peak, similar to previous findings; measured progesterone concentrations statistically mediated the fall in desire from mid-cycle to the luteal phase, but no combination of hormone measures substantially mediated the follicular phase rise in desire, which suggests that other signals may be implicated in this effect. Hormonal predictors of within-cycle fluctuations in sexual behavior generally reached only trend levels of statistical significance, though the patterns again suggested positive effects of estradiol and negative effects of progesterone. Between-women and within-women, between-cycle effects of hormone concentrations were generally absent, although statistical power was more limited at these higher levels of analysis. There were no significant effects of testosterone concentrations when controlling for the effects of estradiol and progesterone, which raises questions regarding the importance of this hormone for the regulation of sexual motivation in natural cycles. Our study is among the first to identify hormonal predictors of within-cycle fluctuations in sexual motivation, and thus adds novel evidence regarding the endocrine correlates of human sexuality.

Women, alcohol, and sexuality.

Alcohol consumption increases subjective sexual desire, arousal, and pleasure for many women, although it lowers physiological arousal. Despite the general belief that alcohol disinhibits female sexual behaviors, alcohol leads to changes in sexual behavior only for a minority of women. Expectancies about the effects of alcohol on sexual behavior may be important mediators of the alcohol-sexual behavior linkage. There also is a relationship between overall alcohol consumption and risky sexual behavior for women, but when alcohol use at or preceding individual instances of sexual activity is examined, there is no association in the majority of studies. Alcohol use by both perpetrators and victims has been implicated in instances of sexual victimization. Heavy alcohol consumption and alcohol problems in women are associated with heightened risk of childhood incest, sexual assault, and sexual dysfunction.

Gender differences in sexual desire: The effects of anger and anxiety

The effects of anxiety and anger on subjective sexual desire in men and women, following Kaplan's model of hypoactive desire disorders, were examined. Gender-appropriate erotic audiotapes containing statements designed to elicit anxiety, anger, or situationally appropriate feelings (control condition) were presented to 24 men and 24 women. Dependent measures included subjective anxiety and time to expressed desire to terminate the sexual encounter. Results indicated that, for women, both anger and anxiety significantly reduced desire relative to the control condition, with anger showing a more marked effect. For men, similar results were noted, although fewer differences were observed between the anxiety and anger conditions. Significantly more women (79%) than men (21%) indicated that they would have terminated the encounter during the anger condition. Results are discussed in light of potential gender differences in factors that influence sexual desire, with directions for future research highlighted.

The Role of Masturbation in Marital and Sexual Satisfaction: A Comparative Study of Female Masturbators and Nonmasturbators

o examine the role of female masturbation in marital and sexual satisfaction, a nonclinical population of married women (aged 18–30 years) was divided into 2 demographically matched groups: women who have reportedly experienced a masturbatory orgasm and women who have reportedly never experienced an orgasm through self-stimulation, each group representing 41 women. Seven comparative assessments were made between the 2 groups: frequency of sexual activity, number of orgasms, subjective sexual desire, self-esteem, marital satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, and subjective sexual arousal. Significant differences between the two groups appeared on 6 of the 7 measurements, indicating that masturbators had significantly more orgasms, greater sexual desire, higher self-esteem, and greater marital and sexual satisfaction, and required less time to sexual arousal.

The role of assertiveness in female sexuality: A comparative study between sexually assertive and sexually nonassertive women

To examine the role of assertiveness in female sexuality, a nonclinical population of married women (ages 18-31 years) were stratified as above or below the median score (73) on sexual assertiveness, as measured by the Hurlbert Index of Sexual Assertiveness (HISA), and matched accordingly for demographics, resulting in two samples: sexually assertive and sexually nonassertive, each group consisting of 50 women. Comparative assessments were made between the two matched samples on frequency of sexual activity, number of orgasms, subjective sexual desire, and both marital and sexual satisfaction. The t-test was used to test the equality of means between samples. Pearson's r was used for correlational data. ANOVA methods were employed to examine race, religion, and employment status. Using t-test, significant differences between the two groups appeared on all five measures. Sexually assertive women reported higher frequencies of sexual activity and orgasms, rated themselves as having greater subjective sexual desire, and reported greater marital and sexual satisfaction.