Low Libido Isn’t Just in Your Head: How We Assess and Treat HSDD

In this episode, Dr. Carolyn Moyers dives into one of the most overlooked yet impactful topics in women’s health: low sexual desire. Despite growing recognition of sexual wellbeing as a key part of overall quality of life, sexual concerns are still rarely addressed in clinical settings. Drawing from the ISSWSH Process of Care for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) and a new 2025 study published in Menopause, Dr. Moyers explores the barriers women face in getting support—and what healthcare providers can do to change that. Nearly 50% of postmenopausal women experience GSM symptoms — yet many suffer in silence. From vaginal dryness to recurrent UTIs and painful sex, these symptoms are chronic, progressive, and treatable. In this episode you will learn: Why sexual health conversations are often missing from routine care How to use the Decreased Sexual Desire Screener (DSDS) to identify HSDD What a targeted physical exam can reveal—think clitoral adhesions, vulvodynia, high-tone pelvic floor dysfunction, and more Medical and psychological conditions that contribute to low desire How medications may be sabotaging sexual function Evidence-based treatment strategies that go beyond “just relax and try wine” Why giving women permission to talk about sex is a clinical skill we all need to practice ISSWSH Process of Care for the Management of Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder in Women, published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, April 2016 New study in Menopause (May 2025) exploring physician barriers to addressing sexual concerns in clinical care