This document discusses diagnostic criteria for several sexual disorders including female sexual interest/arousal disorder, genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder, and male hypoactive sexual desire disorder. It outlines the key symptoms that must be present for a minimum duration of 6 months to qualify for each diagnosis, including lack of interest, arousal or pleasure. It also notes that disorders can be lifelong or acquired and that prevalence varies depending on factors like age, culture and whether problems are persistent or intermittent.

1. Austero, Judy Ann A.
III-10 BS Psychology

2. Lack or significantly reduced, sexual
interest/arousal, as manifested by at least three of
the following :
 absent/reduced interest in sexual activity.
 absent/reduced sexual/erotic activity
No/reduced initiation of sexual activity, and
typically unreceptive to a partner’s attempts to
initiate.

3.  absent/reduced sexual excitement/pleasure
during sexual activity in almost all or all
(approximately 75%-100%) sexual encounters (in
identified situational contexts or, if generalized, in
all contexts.)
Absent/reduced sexual interest/arousal in
response to any internal/external sexual/erotic
cues.
Absent/reduced genital or nongenital sensations
during sexual activity in almost all or all
(approximately 75%-100%) sexual encounters (in
identified situational contexts or, if generalized, in
all contexts.)

4.  In assessing female sexual
interest/arousal disorder , interpersonal
context must be taken into account. A
“desire discrepancy” , in which a woman has
a lower desire for sexual activities. There
must be absence or reduced frequency of
intensity at least three of six indicators for a
minimum duration of approximately six
months.

5. The prevalence of female
sexual interest/arousal disorder
suggests that the lack of sexual
interest or arousal has been
present for the woman’s entire
sexual life.

6. Persistent or recurrent difficulties with one/more
of the ff :
 Vaginal penetration during intercourse
 Marked vulvovaginal or pelvic pain during
vaginal intercourse or penetration attempts.
 Marked fear or anxiety about vulvovaginal or
pelvic pain in anticipation of, during, or as a result
of vaginal penetration.

7.  Marked tensing or tightening
of the pelvic floor muscles
during attempted vaginal
penetration.

8. Genito-pelvic pain/penetration
disorder refers to four commonly comorbid
symptom dimensions :
 difficulty having intercourse
 genito-pelvic pain
 fear of pain or vaginal penetration, and
 tension of the pelvic floor muscles.

9. The development and course of
genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder
is unclear. Because women generally do
not seek treatment until they
experience problems in sexual
functioning, it can, general, be difficult
to characterize genito-pelvic
pain/penetration disorder as life long
(primary) or acquired (secondary).

10. Persistently or recurrently
deficient (or absent) sexual/erotic
thoughts or fantasies and desire for
sexual activity. The judgement of
deficiency is made by the clinician,
taking the factors that affect sexual
functioning, such as age and general
and socio-cultural contexts of the
individual’s life.

11. When an assessment for male
hypoactive sexual desire disorder is being
made, interpersonal context must be taken
into account. A “desire discrepancy,” in
which a man has lower desire for sexual
activity than his partner, is not sufficient to
diagnose male hypoactive sexual desire
disorder.
It must be persistent or recurrent and
must occur for a minimum duration of
approximately 6 months.

12. The prevalence of male hypoactive
sexual desire varies depending on country
and method of assessment. Approximately
6% of younger in men (ages 18-24) 41% of
older men ages (66-74) have problems with
sexual desire. However, a persistent lack of
interest in sex, lasting 6 months or more,
affects only a small proportion of men ages
16-44. (1.8%)

13. By definition, lifelong male
hypoactive sexual desire disorder
indicates that low or no sex desire
has always been present , whereas
the acquired subtype would be
assigned if the man’s low desire
developed after a period of normal
sexual desire.