Devyanshi Dixit: Why Is Female Sexual Dysfunction Still So Underdiagnosed?
Devyanshi Dixit, Program Manager at CLS Event and Publication and Conference Manager at the 12th Global Summit on Gynecology, shared on LinkedIn:
“Why Is Female Sexual Dysfunction Still So Underdiagnosed?
A woman may visit a doctor for pelvic pain, hormonal changes, menopause symptoms, or relationship difficulties – but rarely say:
‘I’m having problems with my sexual health.’
And sometimes, the question is never asked.
Why does this remain so underdiagnosed?
It is not simply a psychological issue.
Female sexual dysfunction can involve a complex interaction of hormones, blood flow, nerves, pelvic-floor function, medications, chronic disease, pain, and psychological well-being.
Hormonal changes can matter.
Menopause, postpartum changes, and other shifts in estrogen and androgen signaling can influence vaginal health, lubrication, arousal, and sexual comfort.
Pain can become part of the cycle.
Conditions such as endometriosis, vulvodynia, pelvic-floor dysfunction, and genitourinary syndrome of menopause may make sexual activity painful – yet the underlying condition may be addressed without asking about its impact on sexual function.
Medications and medical conditions can contribute.
Antidepressants, hormonal therapies, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurological disorders, and other factors may affect desire, arousal, orgasm, or comfort.
But one of the biggest barriers may be silence.
Many women hesitate to discuss sexual concerns because of stigma, embarrassment, cultural expectations, or the belief that these problems are simply something they have to accept.
And clinicians may not routinely screen for them.
The result?
A real health concern can remain invisible – even when it is affecting quality of life, relationships, mental wellbeing, and overall health.
The future of care may require us to move beyond:
‘Is everything okay?’
and start asking:
‘How is your sexual health?’
Better screening, more open conversations, multidisciplinary care, and individualized treatment could help bring female sexual health into the mainstream of gynecologic care.
At the 12th Global Summit on Gynecology, Fertility and Women’s Health (GFWH 2026), this important and often overlooked area of women’s health will be given a global stage for discussion and scientific exchange.
- November 23-24, 2026
- Bangkok, Thailand
If we don’t ask about it, how will we know how many women are silently living with it?”
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