Do you know why women may have diminished libido?

Prof. Know Why answers for your general knowledge and awareness on why women may have diminished libido:

Are you having problems in your sex life? Is your woman having diminished libido? Well, she may be suffering from pelvic floor disorder, which may impact women's sex life!

Incontinence and other disorders of the pelvic organs can take a toll on a woman's sex life, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that among 300 women aged 40 and above, those with symptoms of a pelvic floor disorder were more likely to have a diminished libido, pain during sex, or problems reaching orgasm.

Pelvic floor disorders refer to problems with a woman's pelvic organs - the uterus, bladder and rectum; and the muscles and connective tissue that support them. Among the most common of these are urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse, where weakened muscles and supporting tissue allow one or more pelvic organs to drop down and protrude into the vagina.

Some symptoms of prolapse include pressure in the vagina, pain in the lower abdomen or lower back, and chronic constipation.

It has been estimated that one-third of U.S. women have at least one type of pelvic floor disorder, but studies have come to conflicting conclusions as to whether the conditions hinder women's sex lives.

The new findings, reported in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, suggest that many women with these disorders, do in fact, have problems with sexual function.

However, the risk of sexual dysfunction was not elevated among women who had mild prolapse that was not causing symptoms, said lead researcher Dr. Victoria Handa, an associate professor of gynecology and obstetrics at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. This is important, she explained, because it indicates that women who have sexual complaints but no other potential symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse do not need to be evaluated for the disorder.

The findings are based on 301 patients recruited from gynecology offices affiliated with Johns Hopkins. Eighty women were seeking care for a pelvic floor disorder, including bladder control problems and pelvic organ prolapse. The rest of the women had other conditions or were getting a routine checkup. All of the women completed questionnaires on their overall health, pelvic symptoms and sexual function.

Overall, the researchers found, women with pelvic floor disorders were more likely to have symptoms of a diminished libido, pain during sex and infrequent orgasms - regardless of age and whether they had gone through menopause.

According to the findings of an earlier study by Dr. Handa and her colleagues, women's diminished libido and sexual function are often improved after having surgery to correct significant prolapse.

So, women with pelvic floor disorders should talk it out with their doctors about any sexual difficulties they have. That may only help, improve their diminished libido.

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