Life-long absence of sexual drive in a woman associated with 5-dihydrotestosterone deficiency

Abstract

A case of a woman who presented with lqe-long absence of sexual drive is reported. Although her history contained psychological factors that might have been etiologic in her presentation, she had not responded to sex therapy or cognitive—behavior psychotherapy undertaken at other clinics. When seen by the author, she was found to have poorly developed external genitalia. The only abnormality discovered on endocrinological evaluation was a reduced level of 5 dihydrotestoster-one. Treatment with dihydrotestosterone gel applied to her vulva generated sexual drive and her ability to become sexually aroused.