The age-adjusted prevalence of any sexual problem is 43% among US women. A full 22% of these women experience sexually related personal distress.1 With publication of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition2 has come a shift in classification and, at times, management approach for reported female sexual dysfunction. When women report to their clinicians decreased sexual desire or arousal or pain at penetration, the management is no longer guided by a linear model of sexual response (excitation, plateau, orgasm, and resolution) but rather by a more nuanced and complex biopsychosocial approach. In this model, diagnosis and management strategies to address bothersome sexual concerns consider the whole woman in the context of her physical and psychosocial health. The patient’s age, medical history, and relationship status are among the factors that could affect management of the problem. In an effort to explore this management approach, I used this Update on Female Sexual Dysfunction as an opportunity to convene a roundtable of several experts, representing varying backgrounds and practice vantage points, to discuss 5 cases of sexual problems that you as a busy clinician may encounter in your practice.
Genital atrophy in a sexually inactive 61-year-old woman
Barbara S. Levy, MD: Two years after her husband's death, which followed several years of illness, your 61-year-old patient mentions at her well woman visit that she anticipates becoming sexually active again. She has not used systemic or vaginal hormone therapy. During pelvic examination, atrophic external genital changes are present, and use of an ultrathin (thinner than a Pederson) speculum reveals vaginal epithelial atrophic changes. A single-digit bimanual exam can be performed with moderate patient discomfort; the patient cannot tolerate a 2-digit bimanual exam. She expresses concern about being able to engage in penile/vaginal sexual intercourse.
Dr. Kaunitz, what is important for you to ask this patient, and what concerns you most on her physical exam?
Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD: First, it is important to recognize the patient's expectations and desires. As the case suggests, but further questioning could clarify, she would like to be able to comfortably engage in sexual intercourse with a new partner, but penetration may be difficult (and definitely painful for her) unless treatment is pursued. This combination of mucosal and vestibular atrophic changes (genitourinary syndrome of menopause [GSM], or vulvovaginal atrophy [VVA]) plus the absence of penetration for many years can be a double whammy situation for menopausal women. In this case it has led to extensive contracture of the introitus, and if it is not addressed will cause sexual dysfunction.
Dr. Levy: In addition we need to clarify whether or not a history of breast cancer or some other thing may impact the care we provide. How would you approach talking with this patient in order to manage her care?
Dr. Kaunitz: One step is to see how motivated she is to address this, as it is not something that, as gynecologists, we can snap our fingers and the situation will be resolved. If the patient is motivated to treat the atrophic changes with medical treatment, in the form of low-dose vaginal estrogen, and dilation, either on her own if she's highly motivated to do so, or in my practice more commonly with the support of a women's physical therapist, over time she should be able to comfortably engage in sexual intercourse with penetration. If this is what she wants, we can help steer her in the right direction.
Sheryl Kingsberg, PhD: You know that this woman is motivated by virtue of her initiating the topic herself. Patients are often embarrassed talking about sexual issues, or they are not sure that their gynecologist is comfortable with it. After all, they think, if this is the right place to discuss sexual problems, why didn't he or she ask me? Clinicians must be aware that it is their responsibility to ask about sexual function and not leave it for the patient to open the door.
Dr. Kaunitz: Great point.
Cheryl B. Iglesia, MD: Gratefully, a lot of the atrophic changes this patient demonstrates are reversible. However, other autoimmune diseases (eg, lichen planus, which can affect the vaginal epithelium, or lichen sclerosus, which can affect the clitoris, labia, and vulva) can also cause constriction, and in severe cases, complete obliteration of the vagina and introitus. Women may not be sexually active, and for each annual exam their clinician uses a smaller and smaller speculum--to the point that they cannot even access the cervix anymore--and the vagina can close off. Clinicians may not realize that you need something other than estrogen; with lichen planus you need steroid suppository treatment, and with lichen sclerosus you need topical steroid treatment. So these autoimmune conditions should also be in the differential and, with appropriate treatment, the sexual effects can be reversible.
Michael Krychman, MD: I agree. The vulva can be a great mimicker and, according to the history and physical exam, at some point a vulvoscopy, and even potential biopsies, may be warranted as clinically indicated.
The concept of a comprehensive approach, as Dr. Kingsberg had previously mentioned, involves not only sexual medicine but also evaluating the patient's biopsychosocial variables that may impact her condition. We also need to set realistic expectations. Some women may benefit from off-label use of medications besides estrogen, including topical testosterone. Informed consent is very important with these treatments. I also have had much clinical success with intravaginal diazepam/lorazepam for pelvic floor hypertonus.
In addition, certainly I agree that pelvic floor physical therapy (PT) is a vital treatment component for this patient and, not to diminish its importance, but many women cannot afford, nor do they have the time or opportunity, to go to pelvic floor PT. As clinicians, we can develop and implement effective programs, even in the office, to educate the patient to help herself as well.
Dr. Kaunitz: Absolutely. Also, if, in a clinical setting consistent with atrophic changes, an ObGyn physician is comfortable that vulvovaginal changes noted on exam represent GSM/atrophic changes, I do not feel vulvoscopy is warranted.
Dr. Levy: In conclusion, we need to be aware that pelvic floor PT may not be available everywhere and that a woman's own digits and her partner can also be incorporated into this treatment.
Something that we have all talked about in other venues, but have not looked at in the larger sphere here, is whether there is value to seeing women annually and performing pelvic exams. As Dr. Kingsberg mentioned, this is a highly motivated patient. We have many patients out there who are silent sufferers. The physical exam is an opportunity for us to recognize and address this problem.