436 Sexual Dysfunctions
desire reported by a woman from a certain ethnocultural group meets criteria for female
sexual interest/arousal disorder must take into account the fact that different cultures may
pathologize some behaviors and not others.
Gender-Related Diagnostic Issues
By definition, the diagnosis of female sexual  interest/arousal disorder is only given to
women. Distressing difficulties with sexual desire in men would be considered under
male hypoactive sexual desire disorder.
Functional Consequences of 
Female Sexual Intere st/Arousal Disorder 
Difficulties in sexual interest/a rousal are often associated with decreased relationship sat-
isfaction.
Differential Diagnosis 
Nonsexual mental disorders. Nonsexual mental disorders,  such as major depressive
disorder, in which there is “markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all,
activities most of the day, nearly every day,” may explain the lack of sexual interest/
arousal. If the lack of interest or arousal is completely attributable to another mental dis-
order, then a diagnosis of female sexual in terest/arousal disorder  would not be made.
Substance/medication use. Substance or medication use may explain the lack of inter-
est/arousal.
Another medical condition. If the sexual symptoms are co nsidered to be almost exclu-
sively associated with the effe cts of another medical conditio n (e.g., diabetes mellitus, en-
dothelial disease, thyroid dysfunction, centra l nervous system diseas e), then a diagnosis
of female sexual inte rest/arousal disorder would not be made. 
Interpersonal factors. If interpersonal or significant co ntextual factors, such as severe
relationship distress, intimate partner violence , or other significant stressors, explain the