Impact on Her Life
Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) is a common medical condition marked by low sexual desire and clinically significant personal distress1
Distress from low sexual desire can cause women to avoid situations that lead to intimacy, which can lead to2-5:
- Anxiety
- Loss of vitality
- Self-esteem issues
- Relationship stress
HSDD affects millions of women, some as young as 20 years old6-8
Her HSDD Story: Beth, 34
Beth keeps avoiding intimacy, and it is creating distance in her relationship.
ACCORDING TO A SURVEY OF OVER 1,000 premenopausal women*
Only 5% of premenopausal women knew that HSDD was a medical condition. Many women thought their low sexual desire was temporary, a normal part of aging, or because of a long-term relationship.8,10
*This Palatin–supported research was performed by Burke, Inc., an ISO 20252–certified company, in compliance with the established standard for market, opinion, and social research.
Guide the conversation
According to the Women’s International Study of Health and Sexuality (WISHeS) survey†
HSDD can take a significant emotional and psychological toll on her life3
Of the women with HSDD who experienced distress often, very often, or always, because of their low sexual desire3
91%
Reported feeling unhappy
86%
Reported feeling disappointed
85%
Reported feeling concerned
81%
Reported feeling frustrated
Over 60% of women with HSDD reported feeling like a “sexual failure” and “less feminine.”3
†The WISHeS survey was conducted February to May of 2000. A survey was mailed to a US population sample. Among the 2,050 women who completed the survey, 952 were in 1 of 4 groups (all had current sexual partners): surgically postmenopausal (20‐49 years), premenopausal (20‐49 years), surgically postmenopausal (50‐70 years), or naturally postmenopausal (50‐70 years). The results shown above are from a US cohort of 129 women with HSDD.3
Her distress isn’t because of lack of sex…
…it’s because of the lack of emotional well-being and connection with her partner during sexual activity. Women with HSDD still report having intercourse—but without desire, it’s often seen as a “chore” or “just for her partner.”3,11,12
Changes in sexual desire, such as those seen in HSDD, are not always accompanied by observable changes in sexual behavior or frequency.5
According to a survey of premenopausal women living with HSDD‡
HSDD can create tension in her relationship2,3
67%
Reported feeling
less connected to
their partner
Reported having
less communication
with their partner
35%
35%
Reported feeling
worried their partner
would cheat
Reported arguing with
their partner about their
low sexual desire
33%
Women with HSDD were 2.5 times more likely to feel dissatisfied with their relationship.3†
†The WISHeS survey was conducted February to May of 2000. A survey was mailed to a US population sample. Among the 2,050 women who completed the survey, 952 were in 1 of 4 groups (all had current sexual partners): surgically postmenopausal (20‐49 years), premenopausal (20‐49 years), surgically postmenopausal (50‐70 years), or naturally postmenopausal (50‐70 years). The results shown above are from a US cohort of 129 women with HSDD.3
The attitudinal web-based survey was conducted in August 2012. A survey was emailed to a US population sample. Among the 1,914 women who responded to the survey, 450 reported low sexual desire and related distress. The group included: 306 (68.0%) premenopausal and 144 (32.0%) postmenopausal women, 37 (35.7%) of whom were surgically postmenopausal. 73% of the respondents were married. The results shown above are the responses of the premenopausal women.2
HSDD is the most common female sexual dysfunction6
References
References: 1. Brotto LA. The DSM diagnostic criteria for hypoactive sexual desire disorder in women. Arch Sex Behav. 2010;39(2):221-239. 2. Kingsberg SA. Attitudinal survey of women living with low sexual desire. J Women’s Health. 2014;23(10):817-823. 3. Leiblum SR, Koochaki PE, Rodenberg CA, Barton IP, Rosen RC. Hypoactive sexual desire disorder in postmenopausal women: US results from the Women’s International Study of Health and Sexuality (WISHeS). Menopause. 2006;13(1):46-56. 4. McCabe MP, Sharlip ID, Atalla E, et al. Definitions of sexual dysfunctions in women and men: a consensus statement from the Fourth International Consultation on Sexual Medicine 2015. J Sex Med. 2016;13(2):135-143. 5. Parish SJ, Goldstein AT, Goldstein SW, et al. Toward a more evidence‐based nosology and nomenclature for female sexual dysfunctions—part II. J Sex Med. 2016;13(12):1888-1906. 6. Shifren JL, Monz BU, Russo PA, Segreti A, Johannes CB. Sexual problems and distress in United States women: prevalence and correlates. Obstet Gynecol. 2008;112(5):970‐978. 7. United States Census Bureau. 2015 American community survey 1-year estimates: age and sex. American FactFinder. https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_15_1YR_S0101&prodType=table. Published 2015. Accessed October 2, 2018. 8. Data on file. Palatin Technologies, Inc. 9. Goldstein I, Kim NN, Clayton AH, et al. Hypoactive sexual desire disorder: International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH) expert consensus panel review. Mayo Clin Proc. 2017;92(1):114‐128. 10. Maserejian NN, Parish S, Shifren JL, Huang L, Gerstenberger E, Rosen RC. Healthcare utilization in women diagnosed with hypoactive sexual desire disorder: interim baseline results from the HSDD registry for women. J Womens Health. 2010;19(11):2001‐2009. 11. Bancroft J, Loftus J, Long JS. Distress about sex: a national survey of women in heterosexual relationships. Arch Sex Behav. 2003;32(3):193-208. 12. Ingram J, Washington K, Swett L, Pokrzywinski R, Wilson H. Bremelanotide for premenopausal women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (with or without decreased arousal): exit trial. Palatin Technologies, Inc. 2017;4:1-339.