The role of mechanical devices in treating female sexual dysfunction and enhancing the female sexual response

Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a common medical problem estimated to affect about 40 million American women. In 1998, the American Foundation of Urologic Disease (AFUD) Consensus Panel classified FSD into four different categories: sexual desire disorder, sexual arousal disorder, orgasmic disorder, and sexual pain disorder. This article will focus on the role of mechanical devices to treat sexual arousal and orgasm disorders and to enhance the female sexual response. Mechanical devices may work through vibratory stimulation or by causing clitoral vascular engorgement using a vacuum system. While a number of vibratory stimulating devices are available, only one U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared-to-market device is available by prescription to treat FSD, the Eros Therapy device (UroMetrics, Inc., St. Paul, Minn., USA). The Eros Therapy is a small, battery-powered device used to gently apply direct vacuum over the clitoris causing the clitoral erectile chambers and labia to fill with blood. This article will review the rationale and benefits of using mechanical devices to treat FSD.