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Background: Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) has been estimated to occur in 10%-15% of adult women in large population-representative and community-based studies. However, none of these studies have used in-person diagnostic interview assessment to rule out alternative diagnoses, nor has the impact of other health conditions or help-seeking experiences been investigated. The current study aimed to determine the prevalence of generalized acquired HSDD in women aged ≥18 who attended primary care or obstetrics and gynecology clinics for nonurgent clinic visits in the United States. Methods: A total of 701 women were enrolled at 20 clinical sites across the United States between June 11, 2010, and October 15, 2010. Participants completed a two-part self-administered questionnaire, and a validated, structured, in-person diagnostic interview, conducted by a trained health professional was used for diagnosing HSDD according to DSM-IV-TR criteria. Results: Fifty-two women (7.4%) were assigned a diagnosis of generalized acquired HSDD. Prevalence was lower in minority and postmenopausal women. Level of education and other sociodemographic factors did not appear to differentiate between women with and without HSDD. A marked increase in HSDD prevalence was noted in the perimenopausal (i.e., 40-49 years) and immediate postmenopausal (i.e., 50-59) age groups. Of the women diagnosed with HSDD, 53% had sought care from a health professional for HSDD. Conclusions: In this sample of women recruited in the clinical care setting, we observed an overall prevalence rate of 7.4% of acquired, generalized HSDD, with markedly increased prevalence in midlife women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate treatment seeking and utilization of women diagnosed with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in the clinical setting. Methods: We used interim baseline data from the ongoing HSDD Registry for Women ( n = 724, enrolled at 27 clinical sites across the United States in 2008-2009). The recent diagnosis of generalized, acquired HSDD was confirmed by clinician's administration of the validated diagnostic Decreased Sexual Desire Screener. Treatment-seeking behavior was categorized as formal (discussion with a healthcare provider or use of off-label prescription treatment for HSDD) or informal/none (over-the-counter products, anonymous media, or no help seeking). Results: Over half ( n = 386, 53%) of these women with clinically diagnosed HSDD had not sought formal healthcare for their decreased sexual desire problem. Among formal healthcare seekers, 36% remained untreated, whereas 64% received some form of treatment. The most common treatments reported were nonprescription lubricants or arousal creams (36%) and off-label prescription medications (20%). Women were more likely to have sought formal help if they were married/cohabiting, were postmenopausal, had private health insurance, had >5 current prescription medications, had depression symptoms, had a longer duration of sexual desire problems, or reported that the partner relationship or sense of femininity/sexual self was threatened by HSDD. Conclusions: In these women with HSDD, less than half had sought healthcare, but of those who had sought healthcare, almost two thirds received some form of treatment. Regardless of treatment-seeking behavior, most women had a strong desire to 'feel like a normal person again' regarding sexuality, which was the most common motivating factor for treatment seeking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective was to describe the healthcare and information-seeking behavior of women with self-reported sexual problems and accompanying sexually related personal distress identified from a large, population-based U.S. survey. Methods: Women ( n = 3,239) aged ≥18 years with self-reported sexual problems of desire, arousal, and/or orgasm accompanied by sexually related personal distress were identified from a cross-sectional mailed survey of 50,002 U.S. households sampled from a national research panel. Healthcare and information-seeking behavior was examined as four ordered categories: sought formal medical advice, sought informal advice, sought information from anonymous sources, and did not seek help or information. Correlates of help seeking for each type of distressing sexual problem were modeled with multivariable proportional odds regression. Results: Just over a third of women with any distressing sexual problems had sought formal care, most often from a gynecologist or primary care physician; about 80% of the time, the woman, rather than the physician, initiated the conversation. Only 6% of women who sought medical advice scheduled a visit specifically for a sexual problem. Factors related to help seeking were having a current partner and interacting with the heathcare system. Barriers were poor self-perceived health and embarrassment about discussing sexual topics with a physician. Conclusions: Our results suggest inadequacies in the U.S. medical care system in addressing sexual problems in women. Gynecologists and primary care physicians, by including discussions about sexual health during routine visits, can increase the likelihood that adequate care can be offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]