The Physiology of Female Sexual Function and the Pathophysiology of Female Sexual Dysfunction (Committee 13A)

Roy J Levin; Stephanie Both; Janniko Georgiadis; Tuuli Kukkonen; Kwangsung Park; Claire C Yang

doi:10.1016/j.jsxm.2016.02.172

The Physiology of Female Sexual Function and the Pathophysiology of Female Sexual Dysfunction (Committee 13A)

J Sex Med. 2016 May;13(5):733-59. doi: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2016.02.172.

Authors

Roy J Levin¹, Stephanie Both², Janniko Georgiadis³, Tuuli Kukkonen⁴, Kwangsung Park⁵, Claire C Yang⁶

Affiliations

¹ Reader in Physiology (Retired), Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK: Section 2. Electronic address: r.j.levin@sheffield.ac.uk.
² Department of Psychosomatic Gynecology and Sexology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands: Section 3.
³ Department of Neuroscience, University Medical Center, Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands: Section 4.
⁴ College of Social and Applied Human Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada: Section 6.
⁵ Department of Urology, Chonnan National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea: Section 5.
⁶ Department of Urology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA: Section 1.

PMID: 27114190
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2016.02.172

Abstract

Introduction: The article consists of six sections written by separate authors that review female genital anatomy, the physiology of female sexual function, and the pathophysiology of female sexual dysfunction but excluding hormonal aspects.

Aim: To review the physiology of female sexual function and the pathophysiology of female sexual dysfunction especially since 2010 and to make specific recommendations according to the Oxford Centre for evidence based medicine (2009) "levels of evidence" wherever relevant.

Conclusion: Recommendations were made for particular studies to be undertaken especially in controversial aspects in all six sections of the reviewed topics. Despite numerous laboratory assessments of female sexual function, genital assessments alone appear insufficient to characterise fully the complete sexual response.

Keywords: Brain Imaging; Genital Anatomy; Laboratory Assessments of Sexual Function and Dysfunction; Pathophysiology of Sexual Function; Physiology of Arousal and Orgasm; Psychological Function and Dysfunction.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Evidence-Based Medicine
Female
Humans
Orgasm / physiology
Sexual Behavior / physiology*
Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / physiopathology*
Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / physiopathology*
Women's Health*