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Review

Women's sexual dysfunction: revised and expanded definitions

Rosemary Basson
CMAJ May 10, 2005 172 (10) 1327-1333; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.1020174
Rosemary Basson
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    Fig. 1: Sex response cycle, showing responsive desire experienced during the sexual experience as well as variable initial (spontaneous) desire. At the “initial” stage (left) there is sexual neutrality, but with positive motivation. A woman's reasons for instigating or agreeing to sex include a desire to express love, to receive and share physical pleasure, to feel emotionally closer, to please the partner and to increase her own well-being. This leads to a willingness to find and consciously focus on sexual stimuli. These stimuli are processed in the mind, influenced by biological and psychological factors. The resulting state is one of subjective sexual arousal. Continued stimulation allows sexual excitement and pleasure to become more intense, triggering desire for sex itself: sexual desire, absent initially, is now present. Sexual satisfaction, with or without orgasm, results when the stimulation continues sufficiently long and the woman can stay focused, enjoys the sensation of sexual arousal and is free from any negative outcome such as pain. (Modified from Basson 2001,14 and published with the permission of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.)

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Canadian Medical Association Journal: 172 (10)
CMAJ
Vol. 172, Issue 10
10 May 2005
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Women's sexual dysfunction: revised and expanded definitions
Rosemary Basson
CMAJ May 2005, 172 (10) 1327-1333; DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.1020174

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Women's sexual dysfunction: revised and expanded definitions
Rosemary Basson
CMAJ May 2005, 172 (10) 1327-1333; DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.1020174
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    • Normal sexual function in women
    • Causes of women's sexual dysfunctions
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