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ASK MICHELLE YOUR HEALTH QUESTION
Get access to America's top doctors without making an appointment. Just submit your health questions to women's health advocate and EmpowHer.com's founder Michelle King Robson and your question could get answered. Ask your question by visiting https://www.empowher.com/ask
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MY SEXUAL LIBIDO IS HURTING MY MARRIAGE
Hi Michelle:
I recently turned 43-years-old and I really need your help. My sexual drive is non-existent and it's hurting my marriage. We use to have a fabulous love life. My husband is on "the little blue pill" Viagra, but that helps his ability to perform…is anything being created for my libido? Please help!
Sincerely,
JackieK1965
Mesa, Arizona
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Hi Jackie,
Thank you for asking. Unfortunately, it's been 10 years since Viagra was introduced and still there isn't anything on the market for women's libido. But I do have some very good news.
On your behalf, I contacted the guru of women's sexual medicine, Dr. Irwin Goldstein, from San Diego Sexual Medicine, who was in South Africa when he responded to your questions.
Dr. Goldstein explained, right now there's a pill called Flibanserin, made by Boehringer Ingelheim, and it's in the final steps of phase III clinical trials, which is the step before FDA approval. Dr. Goldstein wanted you to know, "This pill centrally acts on the brain to regulate monoamine neurotransmitters, which decreases serotonin, increases dopamine and increases norepinephrine and thus facilitates sexual interest in women, like Jackie, who has HSDD (Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder)."
What that really means Jackie1965 is this new drug works directly on the pleasure zones of a woman's brain to restore her diminished libido.
Dr. Goldstein also suggested it should take 6-12 months to get approval by the FDA, but I wouldn't hold my breath because there are many women's sexual health drugs pending with the FDA. Viagra, for example, only took six months to get approved, but that's for men.
My suggestion Jackie1965 is you really should get your hormone levels checked. It's time for you to get a great doctor that's well versed in women's hormone levels. You might have to ask around to your girl friends until you find the perfect one, but it's worth the research. Once I got my estrogen up to a normal range and then introduced some compounded testosterone cream, prescribed and designed specifically for me, my libido problems improved dramatically.
Best of health,
Michelle
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Add a Comment1 Comments
Hi Jackie,
April 23, 2010 - 1:18amThe good news is that there are safe nonprescription and prescription solutions (below), some of which have been proven in published studies to increase a woman’s sex drive. Just be aware that figuring out how to increase the female sex drive is complicated because the desire to make love is influenced by so many factors including physical, emotional, relationship satisfaction, and the setting you are in. Possible causes of low sex drive in women include stress or anxiety, medications (anti-depressants, birth control pills) complexity of health issues (Diabetes, MS, cancer) and fatigue.
Of course, you should talk with your doctor. But here is a list of possible steps you can take:
• Have your doctor check your thyroid function.
• Check out the side effects of any medications that you may be taking.
• Zestra (nonprescription topical oil)
Two placebo-controlled studies published in the Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy showed that this blend of botanicals (including borage seed and evening primrose oils, Angelica root and vitamins C and E) provided a significant increase in arousal, desire, genital stimulation, ability to orgasm and pleasure. The treatment also worked equally well on women using SSRI antidepressant medicines.
• Hormone Therapies (prescription only)
Localized estrogen therapy - Placing estrogen directly into the vagina soothes vaginal tissue, and allows the secretions necessary for comfortable sex. They are available as suppository tablets, creams, or "rings," which sit inside the vagina and give off small doses of the hormone over time.
Compounded testosterone cream - Some pharmacies that make medicine from scratch offer testosterone creams and gels, but you'll need a doctor’s prescription.
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