Berman Sexual Health

PSAS: A Newly Discovered Pattern of Excessive Female Arousal That Can Continue Unremittingly for Hours, Days, or Weeks. Most physicians are familiar with the common sexual complaints of women (ie, hypoactive sexual desire, sexual arousal difficulties, an orgasmia, dyspareunia).These problems are quite prevalent, and are re p o rted either spontaneously or after careful sexual inquiry by the physician. Far less common and more puzzling is the complaint by a small number of women of persistent sexual arousal. Although infrequent, this problem is distressing and perplexing not only because of its mysterious onset, but also because of the feelings of shame and discomfort that tend to accompany the phenomenon.

Female sexual functioning is an area that has long been under researched, with many activists arguing greater efforts need to be made to find out more about women's sexual health. This is particularly important given the negative treatment of women by medics/social scientists in the past and the current focus on men's sexual functioning and pharmaceuticals, where women are being left behind.

Female Sexual dysfunction is age-related, progressive and highly prevalent affecting 30-50 percent of women 1,2,3. Based on the National Health and Social Life Survey of 1,749 women, 43 percent experienced sexual dysfunction.4 U.S. population census data reveal that 9.7 million American women ages 50-74 self-report complaints of diminished vaginal lubrication, pain and discomfort with intercourse, decreased arousal, and difficulty achieving orgasm. Female sexual dysfunction is clearly an important women's health issue that affects the quality of life of many of our female patients.

Professional and public interest in female sexual dysfunction has recently been sparked by developments in several areas including the investigation of new drug treatments. Approximately 43 percent of American women suffer from sexual dysfunction--perhaps an actual number as high as 50 million American women. The highest proportion occurs in young women between the ages of 18 and 29. (Study by Edward O. Laumann, PhD; Anthony Paik, MA; Raymond C. Rosen, PhD published in JAMA 2/9/99.) The lack of desire appears to be the number one, most significant complaint, followed by arousal and lubrication dysfunctions.