Optical assessment of genital changes associated with female sexual arousal: a mini-review
Abstract
Background: Optical techniques, including laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF), photoplethysmography (PPG), and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), are emerging as one of the most popular tools for female sexual arousal response (FSAR) assessment. However, to our knowledge, no narrative reviews have focused on the application of these optical techniques in FSAR assessment.
Aim: To fill out the existing gap, we review the literature regarding using optical techniques in FSAR assessment in preclinical and clinical studies.
Methods: A literature search was performed on the manuscript with terms including "female sexual dysfunction, FSAR, LDF, PPG, NIRS" between 1974 and 2024 using PubMed, Google Scholar, and MEDLINE. Among the articles identified, 18 articles were reviewed after excluding articles with non-relevant topics, duplicate articles, and articles not written in English.
Outcomes: This article reviews 11 studies that used LDF/imaging, four studies that used PPG, and three studies that used NIRS, including the employed experimental protocols in each study.
Results: Various optical techniques were used in FSAR assessment during electrical stimulation, visual and tactile stimulation, and drug administration. Additional studies, including using non-human primate models, testing the effects of different anesthetics on FSAR in preclinical studies, and performing more clinical studies to develop a standard for human FSAR monitoring using optical techniques that can lead to the use of…
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