Identifying HSDD in the family medicine setting.

Hypoactive sexual dysfunction disorder (HSDD) occurs among women of all ages but continues to be underdiagnosed and undertreated. A lack of patient-physician communication is a major reason underlying the failure to identify HSDD. Research has revealed that this problem represents a 2-way street: patients are reluctant to discuss sexual difficulties with their physicians, and physicians are reluctant to inquire about such issues. Moreover, some physicians are concerned that conversations about sexual function might consume too much time during the office visit. An additional consideration is the fact that many physicians do not believe they have the requisite knowledge and experience to diagnose and manage HSDD. By recognizing the nature of these barriers and implementing strategies to overcome them, family physicians can play an important role in promoting more widespread screening for female sexual dysfunction (FSD), leading to greater use of diagnostic modalities designed to ascertain the exact nature of the dysfunction.