Largest Study of its Kind Reveals Low Sexual Desire is Most Common Female Sexual Problem

Ingelheim, Germany (ots/PRNewswire) -

- 1 in 10 Women Experience Distress Associated With the Most
Common Form of Female Sexual Dysfunction, yet the Condition Remains
Largely Under-Recognised and Under-Diagnosed

- For non-US media only

Results from the PRESIDE*(1) survey, the largest study assessing
the prevalence of female sexual problems, show that low sexual desire
is the most commonly reported sexual problem in women aged 18 or
older(1). In the new survey of more than 31,000 women, published
today in Obstetrics & Gynecology (the Green Journal), nearly one in
10 women said they experience low desire with sexually-related
personal distress, a condition that is medically referred to as
Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD)(1).

HSDD, is defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) of the American Psychiatric Association, as
diminished feelings of sexual interest or desire, absent sexual
thoughts or fantasies and lack of responsive desire that causes
marked distress or interpersonal difficulties and is not caused by a
medical condition or drug(2). HSDD is a medical condition that
remains largely under-diagnosed(3).

"Physicians who diagnose and treat women with sexual problems
should make sure to evaluate the patient's level of distress
associated with her problem," said Jan L. Shifren, M.D., the leading
author and director of The Menopause Programme, Vincent Obstetrics
and Gynaecology Service at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.
"As distressing sexual problems were identified in approximately one
in eight women, health care providers need to ask their patients
about sexual concerns and whether they are causing unhappiness,
frustration or other distressing feelings that may be impacting their
quality of life."

PRESIDE Results

In the PRESIDE survey, 44.2% of women reported experiencing a
sexual problem of some kind(1). Low desire was most common, reported
in 38.7% of the respondents(1); low arousal (26.1%) and orgasm
difficulty (20.5%) were less frequent(1). Of all the women surveyed,
22.8% said they had sexually-related personal distress(1).

Low desire was the most common distressing sexual problem,
affecting 10% of respondents. It is twice as common as distress
associated with arousal (5.4%) or orgasm problems (4.7%)(1). Low
desire with associated distress was prevalent in women of all ages
but particularly pronounced in mid-life(1).

About PRESIDE

PRESIDE (Prevalence of Female Sexual Problems Associated with
Distress and Determinants of Treatment Seeking) is a
cross-sectional, population-based, nationally-representative survey
of 31,581 adult women in the United States(1).

As female sexual dysfunction is characterised by sexual problems
associated with personal distress, two validated instruments were
used. The Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (CSFQ-14), a
14-item validated tool, was used to capture a respondent's
self-evaluation of current sexual behaviors and problems using a
five-point scale(1). The Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS), a
12-item validated tool, measures a woman's distress about her sex
life, assesses guilt, frustration, stress, worry, anger,
embarrassment, and unhappiness during the past 30 days(1).

About DSM-IV

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth
Edition, defines HSDD as the persistent lack (or absence) of sexual
fantasies or desire for any form of sexual activity marked by
distress or interpersonal difficulty and not better accounted for by
another disorder (except another sexual dysfunction), direct
physiological effects of a substance (including medications) or a
general medical condition(2).

About Boehringer Ingelheim

The Boehringer Ingelheim group is one of the world's 20 leading
pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, it
operates globally with 135 affiliates in 47 countries and 39,800
employees. Since it was founded in 1885, the family-owned company has
been committed to researching, developing, manufacturing and
marketing novel products of high therapeutic value for human and
veterinary medicine.

In 2007, Boehringer Ingelheim posted net sales of 10.9 billion
Euros while spending one-fifth of net sales in its largest business
segment Prescription Medicines on research and development.

For more information please visit
http://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com.

* (Prevalence of Female Sexual Problems Associated with Distress
and Determinants of Treatment Seeking)

Please be advised

This release is from Boehringer Ingelheim Corporate Headquarters
in Germany. Please be aware that there may be national differences
between countries regarding specific medical information, including
licensed uses. Please take account of this when referring to the
information provided in this document. This press release is not
intended for distribution within the USA.

INGELHEIM, Germany, October 31 /PRNewswire/ --

---------------------------------

* Prevalence of Female Sexual Problems Associated with Distress
and Determinants of Treatment Seeking.

1. Shifren, JL et al. Sexual Problems and Distress in United
States Women: Prevalence and Correlates. Obstet Gynecol 2008; 112(5)

2. Sexual and gender identity disorders. In: American Psychiatric
Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
4th Ed. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association;
2000:493-538

3. Bachmann G. Female sexuality and sexual dysfunction: are we
stuck on the learning curve? J Sex Med. 2006 Jul;3(4):639-45.

ots Originaltext: Boehringer Ingelheim
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Contact:
Contact: Julia Meyer-Kleinmann, Head Science & Technology
Communications, Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, Tel.: +49-6132-77-8271,
Email: press@boehringer-ingelheim.com