Genito-sensory analysis in women with arousal and orgasmic dysfunction.
BACKGROUND
Diagnosis and treatment of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) are currently based on subjective female reports and physical examination. The GenitoSensory Analyzer (GSA) is a quantitative sensory testing tool designed to quantify vibratory and thermal sensation in the vagina and clitoris in a reproducible manner, and may therefore contribute to the diagnosis and management of FSD.


OBJECTIVE
To address the question of whether women with arousal and/or orgasmic sexual disorders have genital sensory abnormalities as measured by the GSA.


METHODS
Thresholds for warm, cold, and vibratory sensation at predetermined points in the vaginal wall and clitoris.


METHODS
Female subjects complaining of arousal and/or orgasmic sexual disorders for more than 6 months were evaluated using a questionnaire based on the female sexual function index (FSFI). Women with a desire disorder, pain disorder, vulvar vestibulitis syndrome, or acute vaginal or/and introital infection were excluded. The GSA device measured thresholds for warm, cold, and vibratory sensation at predetermined points in the vaginal wall and clitoris. Eight measurements were obtained, and deviations from previously published normative values were identified.


RESULTS
Twenty-eight women (age 40.4 +/- 13 years) complaining of arousal and/or orgasmic FSD comprised the study cohort. Twenty-five of them (89%) had at least one pathologic genitor-sensory threshold on GSA testing and 19 (68%) had >3 pathologic thresholds. Pathologic GSA results were associated with lower arousal scores on the FSFI questionnaire, older age, and menopausal status.


CONCLUSIONS
Most of the study women had at least one genitor-sensory pathology on GSA testing, indicating a possible organic component in their disorder. Our findings support the incorporation of the GSA as a quantitative tool in the assessment and diagnosis of patients with FSD.
Helpman
Limor
L
Lis Maternity Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University- The Sex Therapy Clinic, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Greenstein
Alexander
A
Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University-Department of Urology, Tel Aviv, Israel;. Electronic address: surge04@post.tau.ac.il.
Hartoov
Joseph
J
Lis Maternity Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University-Ultrasound Unit, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Abramov
Liora
L
Lis Maternity Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University- The Sex Therapy Clinic, Tel Aviv, Israel.
D000328:Adult; D002987:Clitoris / Q000502:physiology; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D011603:Psychophysiology / Q000295:instrumentation; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013696:Temperature; D014732:Vibration