Learn More About Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder

Diagnostic Criteria

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

B. The symptoms in Criterion A have persisted for a minimum duration of approximately 6 months

C. The symptoms in Criterion A cause clinically significant distress in the individual

D. The sexual dysfunction is not better explained by a nonsexual mental disorder or as a consequence of severe relationship distress or other significant stressors and is not attributable to the effects of a substance/medication or another medical condition

Specify whether:

• Lifelong: The disturbance has been present since the individual became sexually active
• Acquired: The disturbance began after a period of relatively normal sexual function

Specify whether:

• Generalized: Not limited to certain types of stimulation, situations, or partners
• Situational: Only occurs with certain types of stimulation, situations, or partners

Specify current severity:

• Mild: Evidence of mild distress over the symptoms in Criterion A
• Moderate: Evidence of moderate distress over the symptoms in Criterion A
• Severe: Evidence of severe of extreme distress over symptoms in Criterion A

Male hypoactive sexual desire sufferers are men who experience a lack of sexual desire. This can be a lifelong problem, or a problem that is the result of an event such as abuse, surgery, or medication changes.

Hypoactive sexual desire disorder has many different causes including psychological causes, physical causes, medication induced causes, hormone changes, and chemical causes.

Physical causes, hormone changes, and medication or chemical causes should be handled by your primary care physician.

Psychological causes of hypoactive sexual desire

• past sexual abuse, rape, incest, or other traumatic sexual experience
• emotional abuse
• fear of rejection by partner
• fear of loss of control
• self-image problems
• relationship problems with partner
• life stresses, such as financial worries, job loss, or divorce
• guilt about sex or sexual pleasure
• Lack of sexual education
• Depression or anxiety

Treatment for hypoactive sexual desire should start with a consult with your primary care physician to rule out physical, hormone, chemical or medication problems. Since there are so many different causes for male hypoactive sexual desire disorder, it’s important to look into all possible causes. A combination of treatment from your physician and from a mental health professional will have the best outcomes.

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