Summary of the recommendations on sexual dysfunctions in women.
BACKGROUND
Women's sexual dysfunctions include persistent or recurrent disorders of sexual interest/desire, disorders of subjective and genital arousal, orgasm disorder, pain and difficulty with attempted or completed intercourse. There are limited recommendation/guideline documents pertaining to the diagnosis and treatment of women's sexual dysfunctions.


OBJECTIVE
To provide recommendations/guidelines concerning state-of-the-art knowledge for the clinical management of women's sexual dysfunctions.


METHODS
An International Consultation in collaboration with the major sexual medicine associations assembled over 200 multidisciplinary experts from 60 countries into 17 committees. Committee members established specific objectives and scopes for various sexual medicine topics. The recommendations concerning state-of-the-art knowledge in the respective sexual medicine topic represent the opinion of experts from five continents developed in a process over a 2-year period. Ten experts from four countries compiled the Recommendations on Sexual Dysfunctions in Women.


METHODS
Expert opinion was based on grading of evidence-based medical literature, widespread internal committee discussion, public presentation and debate.


RESULTS
Recommendations and guidelines concerning the various sexual dysfunctions were updated. A comprehensive assessment of medical, sexual and psychosocial history is recommended for diagnosis and management planning. Indications for general and focused pelvic genital examination and laboratory testing are included. Recently revised definitions for sexual desire/interest disorder, arousal disorders (genital, subjective, combined and persistent), orgasm disorder, dyspareunia and vaginismus are presented. An evidence-based approach to management is provided.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a need for more research and scientific reporting, re-assessment, and management of women's sexual dysfunction including long-term outcome studies.
Basson
Rosemary
R
Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. sexmed@interchange.ubc.ca
Althof
Stan
S
Davis
Susan
S
Fugl-Meyer
Kirsten
K
Goldstein
Irwin
I
Leiblum
Sandra
S
Meston
Cindy
C
Rosen
Raymond
R
Wagner
Gorm
G
D000465:Algorithms; D032921:Consensus; D019091:Critical Pathways; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016387:Women's Health