Publication Date
11-1-2023
Journal
Psychological Services
DOI
10.1037/ser0000733
PMID
36534427
PMCID
PMC10277319
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
11-1-2024
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Author MSS
Published Open-Access
yes
Keywords
Humans, Female, Veterans, Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological, Quality of Life, Prevalence, Retrospective Studies, Arousal, Women’s Health, Veterans, Sexual Health
Abstract
Low sexual desire and arousal are associated with several negative health outcomes, including reduced quality of life, depression, anxiety, and relationship discord. Although women veterans have high rates of risk factors for sexual dysfunctions (e.g., elevated rates of trauma, depression, anxiety), research on their sexual functioning is lacking. Using a retrospective cohort design, we examined the prevalence of documented sexual desire and arousal disorder diagnoses or symptoms, using ICD-10 codes, among 790,726 women veterans receiving care in the Veterans Health Administration. In Fiscal Year 2020, these symptoms and disorders were documented for only 0.19% (n = 1,494) of women veterans receiving care, and symptoms of low sexual desire were documented more frequently than formal desire and arousal diagnoses. Most women veterans with desire and arousal problems were married (53.88%), and most (52.28%) were prescribed antidepressants. Mental health (MH) treatment for desire and arousal difficulties was commonly delivered in-person (as compared to telephone or telehealth). Psychologists primarily treated desire and arousal concerns, providing an average of 2.81 MH encounters (SD = 7.53) compared to an average of 1.62 (SD = 5.25) MH encounters by social workers and 1.22 (SD = 2.53) by psychiatrists. Problems with low sexual desire and arousal are likely underassessed and undertreated within the Veterans Health Administration. Better assessment of women veterans’ low desire and arousal is warranted to improve their well-being and quality of life.
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