Love and work, work and love, that’s all there is. -Sigmund Freud

It’s February, the time of year when Cupid’s arrow and that crazy little thing called love are in the air. Yet for many, being able to express love is a challenge. “Sexual dysfunction” is an umbrella term referring to a constellation of symptoms arising during any stage of normal sexual activity, including physical pleasure, desire or libido, arousal and orgasm.

Sexual dysfunction is a common concern among both sexes: 31% of men and 43% of women report experiencing sexual dysfunction at some point during their lifetimes. What gets in the way of feeling and being sexual? Perhaps a better question is what doesn’t? Causes of sexual dysfunction can be broken down into three categories: physiological, lifestyle and psychosocial. Depression, anxiety, stress and fatigue may all play a role, as can medications, sleep difficulties substance use and abuse, as well as increasing age, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, autoimmune disorders, and hormone and neurotransmitter imbalances - to name a few from longer lists.

Perhaps these lists can be shortened to two words: imbalance and stress. Because the cascade of sexual response relies on mind and body, an imbalance in either of these essential areas may contribute to sexual dysfunction, and the factors that impact sexual dysfunction for one person are likely to be different for another. For many, stress may be the underlying factor. Stress is a response to imbalance, and imbalance leads to more stress - which has been found to be negatively associated with sexual function in both men and women. Stress can affect neurotransmitter and hormone balance, further impacting desire and drive.

Astonishingly, sexual dysfunction is not routinely addressed in clinical practice - only 35% of providers take a sexual history at least 75% of the time! Initiating a conversation about sexual health and/or including a sexual functioning questionnaire as part of the patient intake, as well as including comprehensive neuroendocrine assessments to identify potential hormone and neurotransmitter imbalances, can help both the provider and patient identify causes and contributions to dysfunction. Successful treatment of these concerns requires addressing multiple lifestyle factors (lifestyle, underlying medical problems and psychosocial concerns) while laying a strong foundation for individualized hormone and neurotransmitter balancing. Learn more about how to adress your patient's sexual dysfunction symptoms at Labrix' upcoming Core training in Atlanta. Your registration includes an Adrenal Function panel. Secure your seat today!

• American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Sexual dysfunction and infertility. Available at: http://www.asrm.org/Sexual_Dysfunction_and_Infertility/ . Accessibility verified October 17, 2012.
• Brotto L, Atallah S, Johnson-agbakwu C, et al. Psychological and Interpersonal Dimensions of Sexual Function and Dysfunction. J Sex Med. 2016;13(4):538-71.
• Woods NF, et al. Sexual desire during the menopausal transition and early post-menopause: observations from the Seattle Midlife Women’s Health Study. J Women's Health. 2010; 19: 209-18.
• Leproult R, Van Cauter E. Effect of 1 week of sleep restriction on testosterone levels in young healthy men. JAMA. 2011; 305: 2173-74.
• Hamilton PhD Meston PhD. Chronic stress and sexual function in women. J Sex med. 2013 Oct; 10(10):2443-2454

All information given about health conditions, treatment, products, and dosages are for educational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice

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