[Pharmacological treatment of female sexual disfunction: chimera or reality?].

Sexual dysfunction is defined as a disturbance in the sexual response cycle or as a pain with sexual intercourse. The prevalence of sexual dysfunctions is approximately 40% in the female population. The disorders affecting sexual desire are the most common sexual dysfunctions encountered in women. Whereas recent studies have demonstrated clear influences of hormones on sexual dysfunctions, no pharmacological treatment has been approved for that indication. We will review here several pharmacological treatment strategies proposed in case of sexual dysfunction, underlying the fact that they are effective only to treat specific cases of sexual disorders but cannot replace the sex therapies.