Addiction and Sexuality Addiction and Sexuality
There is a conspicuous lack of sufficient literature on drug use in women, drug-induced female sexual dysfunction, and management strategies for the same in the Indian context, which needs to be remedied at the earliest.
Abstract
Substance use disorders (SUDs) are a significant public health problem, and women, contrary to popular belief, are no exception to this phenomenon. Surveys suggest that women using substances are a small but significant group and can be difficult to access and target. Sexual health in these women is of particular importance because most drugs of abuse have a bearing on sexual functioning. The exact mechanisms through which they cause sexual dysfunction is still under scrutiny. Treatment of substance use disorders in women requires a gender-sensitive approach. Drug use and sexual functioning have a complex and multidimensional relationship. In this article, the authors examine this relationship; and review relevant literature on drug use in women, drug-induced female sexual dysfunction, and management strategies for the same. It can be concluded that there is a conspicuous lack of sufficient literature in this area, especially in the Indian context, which needs to be remedied at the earliest.