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American Morning
Sexual Dysfunction
Aired January 20, 2003 - 08:42 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Viagra has been the answer for many men suffering from sexual dysfunction, but what about women? Doctors differ on the scope of the problem and on how to treat it.
Our medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen joins us live from Atlanta with more.
So tell us, sort through these numbers for us.
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
The numbers can get a bit confusing. The subject of this controversy is, what do women want, and are they getting it. Doctors can't really agree. There was a landmark study done in 1999 that showed that 43 percent of American women were sexually dysfunctional. That's a huge number. Doctors were shocked. However, a study about to come out says that number is really 24 percent, and the earlier number was way too large.
Now, how could two studies come out with such different numbers? Well, basically, the studies disagreed on the definition of female sexual dysfunction. I mean, let's face it, with men, it's a pretty easy definition, either a man gets an erection or he doesn't. With women, the definition is a lot more complicated -- Carol.
COSTELLO: I know what you mean by complicated, but tell us.
COHEN: Well, I'll give you an example of how the two studies define things very differently. One study said, if a woman is having reaching orgasm, then, by definition, she is dysfunctional. The other study said, no, she has to be having trouble, and in addition, she has to be distressed about it. So you get a very different number when you add that caveat, and so that's one of the major reasons why they came up with such different numbers.
COSTELLO: So what you're saying is because a woman does not have an orgasm does not mean she is dissatisfied with sex, maybe it's enough for her, just the emotional closeness?
COHEN: Exactly. That's what the second study would say, it doesn't matter if she is having trouble reaching orgasm or not, if she's happy, then, hey, we're happy, she's not dysfunctional. The first study said, no, she's dysfunctional if she doesn't reach orgasm. And it's just a disagreement that experts have about how to conduct these studies and what the definition is, so it really all depends on who's doing the study.
COSTELLO: And quality means something, too, right?
COHEN: Absolutely. But how do you assess that quality? Again, with men, it's so much easier, either they get an erection or don't. With women, quality is a very hard thing to quantify.
COSTELLO: That's for sure. So do the numbers really mean anything at all?
COHEN: The experts who I talked to said, in the end, the numbers really don't mean anything -- 24 percent are dysfunctional, 43 percent, it doesn't matter. The bottom line is, over the years, experts have realized that women have sexual problems and need treatments just like men.
COSTELLO: Elizabeth Cohen live from Atlanta.
COHEN: Thank you.
COSTELLO: Thank you, Carol.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired January 20, 2003 - 08:42 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Viagra has been the answer for many men suffering from sexual dysfunction, but what about women? Doctors differ on the scope of the problem and on how to treat it.
Our medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen joins us live from Atlanta with more.
So tell us, sort through these numbers for us.
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
The numbers can get a bit confusing. The subject of this controversy is, what do women want, and are they getting it. Doctors can't really agree. There was a landmark study done in 1999 that showed that 43 percent of American women were sexually dysfunctional. That's a huge number. Doctors were shocked. However, a study about to come out says that number is really 24 percent, and the earlier number was way too large.
Now, how could two studies come out with such different numbers? Well, basically, the studies disagreed on the definition of female sexual dysfunction. I mean, let's face it, with men, it's a pretty easy definition, either a man gets an erection or he doesn't. With women, the definition is a lot more complicated -- Carol.
COSTELLO: I know what you mean by complicated, but tell us.
COHEN: Well, I'll give you an example of how the two studies define things very differently. One study said, if a woman is having reaching orgasm, then, by definition, she is dysfunctional. The other study said, no, she has to be having trouble, and in addition, she has to be distressed about it. So you get a very different number when you add that caveat, and so that's one of the major reasons why they came up with such different numbers.
COSTELLO: So what you're saying is because a woman does not have an orgasm does not mean she is dissatisfied with sex, maybe it's enough for her, just the emotional closeness?
COHEN: Exactly. That's what the second study would say, it doesn't matter if she is having trouble reaching orgasm or not, if she's happy, then, hey, we're happy, she's not dysfunctional. The first study said, no, she's dysfunctional if she doesn't reach orgasm. And it's just a disagreement that experts have about how to conduct these studies and what the definition is, so it really all depends on who's doing the study.
COSTELLO: And quality means something, too, right?
COHEN: Absolutely. But how do you assess that quality? Again, with men, it's so much easier, either they get an erection or don't. With women, quality is a very hard thing to quantify.
COSTELLO: That's for sure. So do the numbers really mean anything at all?
COHEN: The experts who I talked to said, in the end, the numbers really don't mean anything -- 24 percent are dysfunctional, 43 percent, it doesn't matter. The bottom line is, over the years, experts have realized that women have sexual problems and need treatments just like men.
COSTELLO: Elizabeth Cohen live from Atlanta.
COHEN: Thank you.
COSTELLO: Thank you, Carol.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
