Female Dhat Syndrome

Dhat syndrome as a clinical entity has not been commonly described in females. A large group of patients with vaginal discharge have associated depressive and somatic symptoms which they attribute to the loss of vital fluid. This clinical picture is similar to that of Dhat syndrome in males. The evidence from South Asian countries suggests female Dhat syndrome be recognized as a culture-bound syndrome. The identification and knowledge about this syndrome in the female would help both gynaecologists and mental health professionals in managing patients who seek help for non-pathological vaginal discharge or psychological problems attributed to vaginal discharge. In this chapter, we intend to summarize the evidence about female Dhat syndrome in terms of its historical evolution, nosology, assessment and management.