Pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy?: Effective treatment for FSD related to unresolved childhood sexual abuse

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is the form of sexual victimization most corre lated with sexual dysfunction in adulthood (Atkeson, Calhoun, Resick, & Ell is, 1994; Sarwer & Durlak, 1996; Laumann, Paik, & Rosen, 1999). The goal of this stud), was to address the sexual ramifications of unresolved CSA and consider The (effectiveness of vasoactive pharmacotherapy,' specifically, s ildenafil, for the treatment of women with unresolved CSA. The sample inclu ded 35 women (mean age, 45 years) who presented to a sexual health clinic a nd who were not of childbearing potential. Of the sample 7 women (23%) bad a history of unresolved CSA. Following a psychosexual history, and medical evaluation, all women were treated with 100 mg of sildenafil, to be used ov er a 6-week period at home. When home doses ti,ere complete, participants f illed out the HEI, a valid and reliable 5-item questionnaire asking about s exual response post sildenafil. Parameters of sexual response included vagi nal lubrication, amount and quality of sensation, satisfaction with interco urse, and ability to reach orgasm. Trends were calculated comparing women w ith and without unresolved CSA history, A minority, of women with CSA respo nded positively to sildenafil.