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Episode 206: Low Libido Isn’t Just in Your Head: How We Assess and Treat HSDD
Manage episode 484780088 series 3526899
In this episode, Dr. Carolyn Moyers dives into one of the most overlooked yet impactful topics in women’s health: low sexual desire. Despite growing recognition of sexual wellbeing as a key part of overall quality of life, sexual concerns are still rarely addressed in clinical settings. Drawing from the ISSWSH Process of Care for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) and a new 2025 study published in Menopause, Dr. Moyers explores the barriers women face in getting support—and what healthcare providers can do to change that.
Nearly 50% of postmenopausal women experience GSM symptoms — yet many suffer in silence. From vaginal dryness to recurrent UTIs and painful sex, these symptoms are chronic, progressive, and treatable.
In this episode you will learn:
Why sexual health conversations are often missing from routine care
How to use the Decreased Sexual Desire Screener (DSDS) to identify HSDD
What a targeted physical exam can reveal—think clitoral adhesions, vulvodynia, high-tone pelvic floor dysfunction, and more
Medical and psychological conditions that contribute to low desire
How medications may be sabotaging sexual function
Evidence-based treatment strategies that go beyond “just relax and try wine”
Why giving women permission to talk about sex is a clinical skill we all need to practice
208 episodes
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