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Female Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder in Couple and Family Therapy

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Introduction

Female sexual interest/arousal disorder (FSIAD), formerly referred to as hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD), is the most prevalent sexual concern among women. Although a common presenting concern for clients seeking couple and sex therapy, it is among the most difficult sexual problems to treat given the complexity of factors that can influence a person’s experience of sexual desire/arousal. Loss of sexual interest or arousal can be a result of numerous health problems, medication side effects, and comorbid conditions such as depression, anxiety and other individual, relational, and sexual problems.

During the past decade, there has been a significant increase in research on low or absent desire in women. The research findings that have emerged brought into question the diagnostic criteria for HSDD due to its emphasis on the absence of sexual desire, thoughts, and fantasies as criteria for diagnosis. Many healthy, sexually satisfied women do not experience sexual...

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Correspondence to Jennifer McComb .

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McComb, J. (2017). Female Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder in Couple and Family Therapy. In: Lebow, J., Chambers, A., Breunlin, D. (eds) Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15877-8_459-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15877-8_459-1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-15877-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-15877-8

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