Age-Related Hypogonadal Syndrome - Treatment - By: David I Crawford

General Considerations

The DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of any sexual dysfunction has four requirements: first, diagnostic subtyping must occur (see Classification section in this chapter); second, another Axis I diagnosis be excluded (except another sexual dysfunction); third, an existing medical circumstance could not explain the dysfunction; and fourth, substance abuse also not be present. In the absence of a thorough assessment (history, physical and laboratory exams when appropriate), the clinician is actually looking at a presenting symptom rather than a diagnosis. The two should not be confused. The distinction is crucial.

Treatment follows diagnostic subtyping. (A) If HSDD is acquired and generalized, the clinician must make essential efforts towards finding the explanation(s) for the change. HSDD is sometimes (the oftenness appears to be unknown) companied by another sexual dysfunction, especially erectile dysfunction, and when both occur together, it may be revealing and utilizable to find out which came first and to act accordingly. One might see how a lack of sexual desire can cause erectile problems. Yet, the opposite is not so clear. The extent to which the presence of erectile dysfunction can result in a generalized lack of sexual desire appears to be entirely unknown. (B) If HSDD is lifelong but situational, a biogenic explanation is unlikely and individual psychotherapy undertaken by a mental health professional seems preferable. (C) If HSDD is incurred but situational, a biogenic explanation is, again, unlikely (with the possibly exception of hyperprolactinemia). In this circumstance, psychotherapy seems indicated but depending on the apparent etiology, could be provided individually or together with a partner. (D) If the history reveals that HSDD has been lifelong and generalized, change is unlikely and the clinician should direct therapeutic energy towards helping the person (or, more likely, the couple) to adapt. Kinsey's admonition seems relevant: . . . there is a certain disbelief in the profession of the existence of people who are basically low in capacity to respond. This amounts to asserting that all people are more or less equal in their sexual endowments, and ignores the existence of individual variance. No one who knows how remarkably various individuals may be in morphology, in physiological reactions, and in other psychologic capacities, could conceptualise of erotic contents (of all things) that were basically uniform throughout a population.

About the Author

About The Author
David Crawford is the CEO and owner of a Male Enhancement Pills company known as Male Enhancement Group which is dedicated to researching and comparing male enhancement products in order to determine which male enhancement product is safer and more effective than other products on the market. Copyright 2009 David Crawford of Male Enhancement Pills This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.

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