Preventive strategies for FSIAD/HSDD include engaging in healthy relationships, seeking couples and individual counseling when necessary, continuing sexual activity through perimenopause and menopause, and engaging in moderate regular exercise. Professional counseling (couples counseling or individual patient counseling) is beneficial for female patients with psychiatric disorders who experience adverse side effects from medications such as SSRIs. Regular sexual activity has been shown to increase vulvar and vaginal blood flow and tissue elasticity, protecting against vulvovaginal atrophy. The benefits of exercise include relaxation and improved blood flow.
Increasing sleep to 12 hours daily and avoidance of sexual activity do not prevent FSIAD/HSDD. Initiating or increasing the dose of beta-blocker therapy and prescribing a daily low-dose antihistamine would increase a patient's risk of developing FSIAD/HSDD.
For more on prevention and management of FSIAD/HSDD, read here.
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Cite this: Christine Isaacs. Fast Five Quiz: Female Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder/Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder - Medscape - Apr 03, 2019.
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