Lori Anne Brotto (born 1975) is a
Canadian
Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...
psychologist best known for her work on
female sexual arousal disorder
Female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD) is a disorder characterized by a persistent or recurrent inability to attain sexual arousal or to maintain arousal until the completion of a sexual activity. The diagnosis can also refer to an inadequate lu ...
(FSAD).
[Finn, Robert (March 1, 2005)]
Study confirms at least two subtypes of FSAD.
''OB/GYN News''
Career
In 1993, Brotto graduated Johnston Heights High School in
Surrey, British Columbia. Brotto attended the
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a public research university with campuses near Vancouver and in Kelowna, British Columbia. Established in 1908, it is British Columbia's oldest university. The university ranks among the top thre ...
, earning a
biopsychology B.Sc.
A Bachelor of Science (BS, BSc, SB, or ScB; from the Latin ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for programs that generally last three to five years.
The first university to admit a student to the degree of Bachelor of Science was the University of ...
in 1997, a
M.A.
A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...
in 1999, and a
Ph.D.
A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, Ph.D., or DPhil; Latin: or ') is the most common degree at the highest academic level awarded following a course of study. PhDs are awarded for programs across the whole breadth of academic fields. Because it is ...
in
clinical psychology in 2003. In 2003, she completed a one-year internship in the Department of Psychiatry at the
University of Washington
The University of Washington (UW, simply Washington, or informally U-Dub) is a public research university in Seattle, Washington.
Founded in 1861, Washington is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast; it was established in Seattl ...
, followed by a two-year Postdoctoral Fellowship in Reproductive and Sexual Medicine. Brotto was licensed as a Psychologist in the Province of British Columbia in 2005 and has held a position in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of British Columbia since 2005. She is currently the Executive Director for the province of BC's
Women's Health Research Institute.
Brotto is currently President of the
International Academy of Sex Research
The International Academy of Sex Research (IASR) is a scientific society for researchers in sexology. According to John Bancroft, retired director of the Kinsey Institute, IASR "can claim...most of the field's leading researchers." IASR is uni ...
, and a member of the
Society for Sex Therapy and Research
The Society for Sex Therapy and Research (SSTAR, pronounced "star") is an international non-profit professional association. It was founded in 1975 and its members "have clinical and/or research interests in human sexual concerns." , she is Past-President of the
Canadian Sex Research Forum
Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...
, and the
Canadian Psychological Association
The Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) is the primary organization representing psychologists throughout Canada. It was organized in 1939 and incorporated under the Canada Corporations Act, Part II, in May 1950.
Its objectives are to imp ...
. She is an Associate Editor for the ''
Archives of Sexual Behavior
The ''Archives of Sexual Behavior'' is a peer-reviewed academic journal in sexology. It is the official publication of the International Academy of Sex Research.
History
The journal was established in 1971 by Richard Green, who served as its e ...
'', and is on the editorial boards for the ''Journal of Sex Research'', ''
Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy'', International Journal of Sexual Health, and Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality.
Brotto specializes in sexual issues for individuals during and after treatment for gynecological
cancer
Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal b ...
, saying that "50% to almost 100% of women following gynaecological cancer do report some degree of sexual impairment depending on the kind of cancer treatment they've had."
[Swan, Norman (June 23, 2008)]
Sexual dysfunction in women with gynaecological cancer.
''The Health Report'' (ABC).[Indiana University (September 17, 2007)]
'' ScienceDaily''. In 2005 Brotto launched North America's first study to explore a mindfulness-based treatment aimed at helping cancer survivors treated with radical hysterectomy regain their sexual health.
[Thomson, Hilary (December 2, 2004). ''UBC Reports'', Vol. 50, No. 11] To Brotto, the one defining feature of sexual dysfunction is the level of interference it causes. "If lack of desire or inability to reach orgasm interferes in a woman's life, distresses her, or creates a burden on her relationship with her partner, then it could do with some fixing. If it doesn't, then leave well enough alone."
[Bryan, Helena (June 30, 2005)]
Female orgasms not always on the menu.
''The Georgia Straight
''The Georgia Straight'' is a free Canadian weekly news and entertainment newspaper published in Vancouver, British Columbia, by Overstory Media Group. Often known simply as ''The Straight'', it is delivered to newsboxes, post-secondary schools, ...
'' She coauthored two chapters on managing FSAD and low sexual desire in women in the 2009 publication ''Clinical Manual of Sexual Disorders'' edited by
Richard Balon and
Robert Taylor Segraves.
More recently, inspired by the work of
Jon Kabat-Zinn
Jon Kabat-Zinn (born Jon Kabat, June 5, 1944) is an American professor emeritus of medicine and the creator of the Stress Reduction Clinic and the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medi ...
, Brotto has been involved in leading several randomized clinical trials evaluating mindfulness-based treatments for problems of low sexual desire/loss of arousal, sexual distress associated with sexual abuse, provoked vestibulodynia, and situational erectile dysfunction. She is also interested in sexual difficulties associated with gynaecologic and colorectal cancers (men and women), and women with provoked vestibulodynia (genital pain)
[Sadownik, L., Seal, B., & Brotto, L. (2012). Provoked vestibulodynia: A qualitative exploration of women's experiences. ''British Columbia Medical Journal, 54,'' 22-28.] and outcome research focused on psychological and mindfulness-based methods in the treatment of sexual dysfunction.
[Suttie, Jill (January 30, 2013)]
Can Mindfulness Treat Sexual Dysfunction?
Book
Brotto's book, ''Better Sex through Mindfulness'', is published by
Greystone Books
Greystone or Graystone may refer to:
Locations
* Graystone Manor, the first condominium building built in the continental United States
* Greystone, West Virginia
* Greystone Airport, a private airport in Ocala, Florida
* Greystone (estate), a h ...
in April 2018. Here, Brotto offers a groundbreaking approach to improving desire, arousal, and satisfaction in women. A pioneer in the use of mindfulness for treating sexual difficulties, Brotto has helped hundreds of women cultivate more exciting, fulfilling sexual experiences. In this accessible, relatable book, she explores the various reasons for sexual problems, such as stress and incessant multitasking, and tells the stories of many of the women she has treated over the years. She also provides exercises that readers can do on their own to increase desire and sexual enjoyment, whether their goal is to overcome a sexual difficulty or simply give their love life a boost.
Selected publications
Book
*Brotto, L. A. (2018). ''Better sex through mindfulness: How women can cultivate desire.'' Vancouver, Canada: Greystone Publ.
Research works
*Brotto L. .A (2003). ''Genital and Subjective Sexual Arousal in Women: Effects of Menopause, Sympathetic Nervous System Activation, and Arousal Disorder''. University of British Columbia,
*Basson R, Brotto LA (2003). Sexual psychophysiology and effects of sildenafil citrate in oestrogenised women with acquired genital arousal disorder and impaired orgasm: a randomised controlled trial. ''BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology'' 2003 Nov;110(11):1014-24.
*Graziottin A, Brotto LA (2004). Vulvar Vestibulitis Syndrome: A Clinical Approach. ''Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy'', 2004 May-Jun;30(3):125-39.
*Basson R, Leiblum S, Brotto LA, Derogatis J (2004). Revised Definitions of Women's Sexual Dysfunction. ''The Journal of Sexual Medicine'', 2004 Jul;1(1):40-8.
*Basson R, Brotto LA, Laan E, Redmond G,
Utian WH (2005). Assessment and Management of Women's Sexual Dysfunctions: Problematic Desire and Arousal. ‘’Journal of Sexual Medicine." 2005 May;2(3):291-300.
*Brotto LA (2005). Psychologic-based desire and arousal disorders: Treatment strategies and outcome results. In Goldstein I, Meston CM, Davis S, Traish A (Eds.). ''Textbook of Female Sexual Dysfunction.'' Taylor & Fancis Medical Books, pp. 443–450.
*Brotto LA. Klein C (2007). Sexual and Gender-Identity Disorders. In: Hersen M, Turner SM, Beidel D. (Eds.) ''Adult Psychopathology and Diagnosis'' (Fifth Edition). John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, NJ, pp. 504–570.
*Brotto LA, Luria M. (2008). Menopause, Aging, and Sexual Response in Women. In: Rowland DL, Incrocci L. (Eds.). ''Handbook of Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders.'' John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, NJ, pp. 251–283.
References
External links
Lori Brotto personal websiteLori Brotto research websitevia University of British Columbia
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brotto, Lori
1975 births
Canadian sexologists
Living people
Women sexologists
Fellows of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences