Treatment of Female Sexual Dysfunction

Most women who suffer from FSD benefit from a treatment approach that includes addressing both medical and emotional issues. Sometimes a medical solution can be the answer. Your doctor may try vaginal estrogen therapy, or if you are taking antidepressants, changing from one medication to another.

Behavioral treatments, such as stress management or couples therapy can help in the treatment of FSD. Most often, a combination of both works the best.

Non-medical treatment for female sexual dysfunction

  • Communication: Improving your communication is essential to developing better sexual health. Many couples do not talk about sex and the difficulties they are experiencing. They find it difficult to talk about such sensitive and intimate subjects, but talking about it can help. Talk to your partner. Listen to your partner. An open and honest dialogue can make a huge impact in your sex life.

  • Healthy lifestyle habits: Use alcohol in moderation because it can dull your sexual response. Smoking can restrict blood flow, and the less blood that reaches your sexual organs, the less chance you have for arousal and orgasm. Regular exercise can help boost your endurance, improve your mood and generally make you feel better about yourself. Also, learning to relax and avoiding stress can improve your ability to focus on your sexual experience. All these can help you achieve greater arousal and orgasm.

  • Counseling: Find a qualified therapist in your area, one who focuses on sexual and relationship problems. Therapy can include sex education, ways to be more intimate with your partner, and suggestions for couple's exercises. Various literature can also be helpful in learning different techniques and ideas for building a more intimate relationship with your partner. A therapist can be helpful in assisting you to better understand where your sexual beliefs and attitudes originate. These can be a key to identifying your sexual dysfunctions.

Medical treatment for female sexual dysfunction
Certain medications can have sexual side effects, particularly medications for anxiety and depression. Changing or adjusting these could make a difference. Also, hormonal imbalances or other medical conditions can affect your arousal and orgasm. Be sure to talk with your doctor about pelvic pain or other genital pain you may be experiencing.

Hormone Therapy

  • Estrogen therapy: This could be in the form of a vaginal ring, cream or tablet, which can aid in lubrication, tone, elasticity and even increase blood flow. Estrogen can also have a positive effect on brain function and mood issues.

  • Androgen therapy: This treatment consists of male hormones, such as testosterone. Although the presence of testosterone is minimal in women, they nonetheless need a certain amount for adequate sexual function. Androgen therapy is still somewhat controversial, but some women have been shown to benefit from this therapy. It can be given as a cream or pill.

The best therapy for female sexual dysfunction is to resolve both physical and emotional factors. Female sexual dysfunction is so complex, that no medicines or hormones will help until you address both of these first.


The physicians at Premier Medical Group Urology Division work with several therapists in the Poughkeepsie area, who specialize sexual communication.