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Management of hypoactive sexual desire disorder in transgender women: a guide for clinicians

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 33, pages 703–709 (2021)Cite this article

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Abstract

Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) represents a common condition among transgender women. However, to date no specific guidelines for the management of HSDD in transgender persons are available. The aim of the present narrative Review is to evaluate evidence-based treatment for HSDD and to suggest treatment options for HSDD in transgender women. Clinically relevant publications on the management of HSDD (from 1985 to 2020) were searched in PubMed and Medline databases, using the following terms: “sexual desire”, “sexual health”, “HSDD”, “transgender”, “gender-affirming treatment”, “sexual therapy”, “testosterone treatment”, “Central nervous system-active medications”, and variants. Since sexual desire could be affected by several factors, a comprehensive assessment of HSDD- exploring biological, psychological, and social domains- is recommended, in order to identify possible predisposing, precipitating and maintaining factors. Among treatment options, transgender women may benefit of different sex therapy strategies and/or central nervous system-active medications—such as flibanserin, bremelanotide, bupropion and buspirone—and transdermal testosterone, bearing in mind that this option could be poorly accepted by patients due to the risk of virilizing effects. The lack of data regarding the efficacy of HSDD treatment options in transgender women emphasize the need for literature to focus more on this topic in the future.

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Fig. 1: Flow diagram of literature review.
Fig. 2: Flowchart reporting possible strategies to manage HSDD in transgender women.

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  1. Andrology, Women’s Endocrinology and Gender Incongruence Unit, Florence University Hospital, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139, Florence, Italy

    Carlotta Cocchetti, Jiska Ristori, Francesca Mazzoli, Linda Vignozzi & Alessandra Daphne Fisher

  2. Department of Experimental, Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Careggi University Hospital, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139, Florence, Italy

    Mario Maggi

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  1. Carlotta Cocchetti
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Cocchetti, C., Ristori, J., Mazzoli, F. et al. Management of hypoactive sexual desire disorder in transgender women: a guide for clinicians. Int J Impot Res 33, 703–709 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-021-00409-8

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