From Woman's World · Lisa Maxbauer · · 1m 40s
How to Talk to Your Doctor About HSDD
Ask your doctor about low desire with simple questions to find help.
In brief
Ask your doctor about low desire with simple questions to find help. Women can discuss HSDD with doctors using specific questions to access FDA-approved treatments. Originally reported by Woman's World.
Why doctors avoid discussing sex drive
Many doctors never ask about sex life beyond reproductive years, causing women to suffer in silence.
“Doing a sexual health assessment and asking a woman about her sex drive should be commonplace in a primary care physician's office”
HSDD affects one in three women
Approximately one in three women experience distressing low sexual desire that needs medical attention.
“Many clinicians still feel uncomfortable or do not think it's relevant to ask about sexual health”
Find a doctor who understands women's sexual health
Not all doctors are educated about women's desire; seek specialists who know about sexual health beyond pregnancy and reproductive cancers.
“You learn absolutely nothing in medical school about sexual medicine at all for anybody”
Start with simple conversation starters
Ask, 'Do you have suggestions for increasing my sex drive?' or 'I wonder if I have low desire?' to begin the discussion.
“An easy way to begin: Just say something like 'I wonder if I have low desire?'”
Ask for HSDD evaluation
Doctors need to know how long low desire has persisted and if it causes distress in your life or relationship.
“The condition involves issues that have lasted longer than six months”
FDA-approved medication options
Addyi is a once-daily pill for pre and postmenopausal women under 65 with HSDD; Vyleesi is an on-demand injectable for premenopausal women.
“Addyi is giving clinicians an evidence-based, structured approach to treating what may be a very stressful and difficult-to-treat condition”
Side effects of Vyleesi
Vyleesi has a 40 percent chance of nausea and can be taken up to eight times per month.
“It has side effects that preclude a lot of people from really enjoying it”
Bring your partner to appointments
Including your partner helps educate them about HSDD and its biopsychosocial causes.
“I love it when someone brings their significant other with them, because part of understanding this is understanding how our desire works”
Educate yourself on sexual health
Read trustworthy sources to understand HSDD and avoid misconceptions about low desire.
“If all you've ever heard is that sex is supposed to be painful or midlife means the end of your desire, all of that culminates into people not expecting that they can do any better”
Use telehealth services
Telehealth services help find knowledgeable doctors and provide FDA-approved treatments from home.
“Consult with doctors and health experts who stay current on the latest research regarding women's desire”
HSDD is treatable
There are biological shifts that can be addressed with FDA-approved treatments to restore natural desire.
“Help is available and you deserve to restore this lost and precious part of your life”
In short
Women can discuss HSDD with doctors using specific questions to access FDA-approved treatments.
