Nonpharmacologic interventions
Dr. Thomas encouraged clinicians to consider nonpharmacologic approaches, too, such as referring patients to sex therapists.
“There’s something called ‘sensate focus,’ which is a type of sex therapy that’s been around for decades, but it’s still very effective,” Dr. Thomas said.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is another option, she said. A systematic review published in 2022 showed CBT was an effective tool for treating HSDD, although Dr. Thomas noted the evidence is limited.
A newer treatment gaining traction is mindfulness meditation, often provided by therapists, which focuses on present moment and nonjudgmental bodily awareness. Dr. Thomas recommended referring patients to educational literature such as “Better Sex Through Mindfulness: How Women Can Cultivate Desire” by Lori Brotto (Vancouver: Greystone Books, 2018). The book also comes with a workbook.
“This has actually been shown in multiple trials to be effective for the treatment of low sexual desire with moderate to large effect sizes,” she said.
Dr. Abumusa, Dr. Leyens, and Dr. Thomas reported no relevant financial relationships.
A version of this article originally appeared on Medscape.com.