PREVALENCE OF FEMALE SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION IN GYNECOLOGIC AND UROGYNECOLOGIC PATIENTS ACCORDING TO THE INTERNATIONAL CONSENSUS CLASSIFICATION I. M. GEISS, W. H. UMEK, A. DUNGL, C. SAM, P. RISS, AND E. HANZAL ABSTRACT Objectives. To evaluate the prevalence of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in an outpatient gynecologic and urogynecologic clinic using the current International Consensus Classification. Methods. One hundred fifty-nine patients were asked to answer an anonymous survey about FSD. Patients in the gynecologic (group 1) and urogynecologic (group 2) clinics were compared. Results. The mean age in group 1 was 37.8 years (range 20 to 76) and in group 2 was 55.7 years (range 18 to 82). The prevalence of FSD was 50% in group 1 and 48% in group 2; 86% of group 1 and 66% of group 2 patients had been sexually active within the past 2 years. The differences found in FSD according to the consensus panel classification achieved no significance. Of the 159 patients, 96% were not embarrassed by filling out this questionnaire about their sexual function. Conclusions. No statistically significant difference in FSD was found between the younger and older patients seeking help in a gynecologic or urogynecologic outpatient clinic. Because of the high incidence of FSD, we recommend integrating the inquiry about female sexual health concerns into routine gynecologic care. The simple survey based on the International Consensus Conference Classification of FSD gives reliable results, and this systematic framework facilitates methodologic examination. UROLOGY 62: 514–518, 2003. © 2003 Elsevier Inc. F emale sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a highly prevalent problem for 38% to 63% of wom- en. 1–4 This problem is determined by multicausal and multidimensional factors, because emotional, physical, biologic, psychological, and interper- sonal domains interfere with the sexual function of women. 5 Since the definition of male erectile dysfunction by a National Institutes of Health (NIH) “Consen- sus Development Panel of Impotence,” male sexual dysfunction has become a growing topic in medical research and in the media. 6–9 In contrast to the widespread interest in research and treatment of male sexual dysfunction, less attention has been paid to the sexual problems of women. In 1998 the “International Consensus Conference of Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD),” convened by the American Foundation for Urologic Diseases, held their initial meeting in Amsterdam to develop an international model of definitions and classifica- tions of FSD. 10 The four major categories of dys- function, desire, arousal, orgasmic, and sexual pain disorders, were considered necessary to main- tain continuity in research and clinical practice. A new category of sexual pain disorder, including noncoital sexual pain, has been added. In addition, the American Foundation for Urologic Diseases classification system includes personal distress in each category. Since 1998, the interest in this subject has been increasing, but problems still exist comparing the data, because of methodologic differences and a lack of using the standardized definition. Never- theless, this new classification gives a basic input for research and therapy about FSD. Epidemiologic and pathophysiologic research studies can be done From the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, LKH Mo ¨- dling, Mo ¨dling; and Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria Reprint requests: Ingrid Maria Geiss, M.D., Department of Ob- stetrics and Gynecology, LKH Mo ¨ dling, Sr. M. Restitutagasse 12, Mo ¨ dling A-2340, Austria Submitted: November 13, 2002, accepted (with revisions): April 21, 2003 ADULT UROLOGY © 2003 ELSEVIER INC. 0090-4295/03/$30.00 514 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED doi:10.1016/S0090-4295(03)00487-4