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Review
. 2025 Mar 1;68(1):3-9.
doi: 10.1097/GRF.0000000000000904. Epub 2024 Dec 3.

Psychotherapy in Treating Female Sexual Dysfunction

Erika L Kelley  1   2 , Stanley E Althof  3   4
Affiliations
Review

Psychotherapy in Treating Female Sexual Dysfunction

Erika L Kelley et al. Clin Obstet Gynecol. .

Abstract

This paper provides a summary of the biopsychosocial approach to the identification of female sexual dysfunction, with a particular focus on psychological, interpersonal, and sociocultural components. A summary of psychotherapeutic approaches to the management of female sexual dysfunction, for cases warranting a specialist referral, is provided. Approaches including sensate focus sex therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based approaches, and systematic desensitization are summarized. This information may support obstetric and gynecologic health care professionals in engaging in interdisciplinary care and in providing an informative and warm referral to patients who would benefit from psychotherapeutic approaches.

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References

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    1. Clayton AH, Goldstein I, Kim NN, et al. The international society for the study of women’s sexual health process of care for management of hypoactive sexual desire disorder in women. Mayo Clin Proc. 2018;93:467–487.
    1. Parish SJ, Cottler-Casanova S, Clayton AH, et al. The evolution of the female sexual disorder/dysfunction definitions, nomenclature, and classifications: a review of dsm, icsm, isswsh, and icd. Sex Med Rev. 2021;9:36–56.
    1. Althof SE, Meston CM, Perelman MA, et al. Opinion paper: on the diagnosis/classification of sexual arousal concerns in women. J Sex Med. 2017;14:1365–1371.
    1. Parish SJ, Goldstein AT, Goldstein SW, et al. Toward a more evidence-based nosology and nomenclature for female sexual dysfunctions-part ii. J Sex Med. 2016;13:1888–1906.

MeSH terms