A Methodology Study to Develop and Validate a Screener for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder in Postmenopausal Women

Abstract

Introduction Current methods for diagnosing hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) can be complicated and time-consuming. A previous study reported validity and reliability of a structured diagnostic method created for clinical trials that can be performed in approximately 1 hour. Methods A more succinct tool is needed for incorporation into busy physician practices. Therefore, a brief HSDD screening tool was developed consisting of four self-report questions with an interpretable cut-score and concise confirmatory physician interview. Main Outcome Measures Accuracy of the HSDD screener cut-score alone, and in combination with physician interview, was then separately evaluated when compared with in-depth interview diagnosis. Results The results showed good agreement between the two diagnoses (kappa of 0.669 and 0.562 for cut-score alone and cut-score in combination with physician interview, respectively). Conclusions The HSDD screener can reliably detect the likely presence of HSDD in postmenopausal women.

Sexual Dysfunction in Women with Diabetic Kidney

“…These can be assessed using the 9-item FSFI. There are several validated screening tools that focus on HSDD, which is the most common sexual concern of women of all ages (Table 1) [20–22]. …”

Low Sexual Desire — Is it All in Her Head? Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder

“…Low sexual desire is believed to be the most prevalent form of FSD, 25,26 and appears to increase with surgical menopause. Prevalence of distressing low sexual desire in European (France, Italy, Germany, the UK) and US women was investigated in the WISHeS study, a cross-sectional study conducted in 1999 to 2000 involving .…”

“…A number of well-validated self-and clinician-administered questionnaires are available, including the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), a 19-item self-report measure of FSD that scores on 6 domains of sexual function (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain), as well as a total score, 32 and has been validated in women with HSDD; 33 the PFSF, a 37-item instrument, measures the loss of sexual desire and related aspects of sexual function in menopausal women with HSDD; 28,34 the Sexual Interest and Desire Inventory-Female Version (SIDI-F), a clinicianadministered tool to quantify the severity of symptoms in women with HSDD, 35,36 and the validated Women's Sexual Interest Diagnostic Interview (WSID), an assessment tool designed to help clinicians identify HSDD in postmenopausal women. [36][37][38] Shorter questionnaires have also been developed and validated for use in busy clinical practice, including the brief version of the PFSF, developed using items from the PFSF and the PDS and validated in HSDD, 39 a 4-item HSDD screener, which can be paired with a face-to-face interview by the primary care clinician to reliably screen for HSDD in postmenopausal women, 26 and the Decreased Sexual Desire Screener (DSDS), a 5-item questionnaire developed for practicing clinicians who are neither trained nor specialized in managing FSD. These brief diagnostic screening tools are designed to assist clinicians in making an accurate diagnosis of generalized acquired HSDD.…”

The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI): Translation, Validation, and Cross-Cultural Adaptation of an Urdu Version “FSFI–U”

“…Many structured self‐report and semistructured questionnaires have been developed for the evaluation of FSD, and some have been thoroughly tested for psychometric validity, like the Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire [11], Brief Index of Sexual Functioning for Women [12], the Derogatis Interview for Sexual Functioning [13], the Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction [14], and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) [9]. Some other questionnaires have also been developed, but have not been validated so extensively [15, 16]. …”