Appleton Health Report Highlights Chlamydia Increase, Smoking by Pregnant Women

Chlamydia cases have more than doubled in Appleton during the past decade, a report from the city’s health department shows.

That finding along with persistent problems with women smoking during pregnancy and an uptick in vaccine-preventable diseases help shape local health policy for hospitals and public resources.

The city’s health report card shows 277 chlamydia cases in 2013, up from 129 in 2003. That rate is 3.8 per 1,000 residents, slightly lower than the state rate of 4 per 1,000.

Most people with chlamydia aren't aware they have it because the disease often doesn't have symptoms. It’s the most commonly reported sexually transmitted disease nationwide, said Kurt Eggebrecht, Appleton’s health officer.

It can spread quietly among men and women, but can easily be cured with antibiotics, he said.

Sexually active females 25 and younger should be tested every year, Eggebrecht said. The disease can lead to problems as a woman ages, and can cause difficulties in getting pregnant. The good news: It’s easy to cure, unlike many STDs.

Statewide, chlamydia infections rose from 17,780 to 23,204 or a rate of 3.2 to 4.1 per 1,000 residents in the last decade. Nationwide, the rate during that time period increased from 3 to 4.6 per 1,000, according to the state’s Department of Health Services.

Some of the increase in the Fox Cities and nationally is due to improved testing methods, said Claire Smith, spokeswoman for the Department of Health Services.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that states could expect to see as much as a 25 percent increase in the number of infections reported due to the use of more sensitive methods,” Smith wrote in an email to Post-Crescent Media.

This impact was first observed in Wisconsin in 2003-2004, when the number of reported cases increased from 17,780 to 19,621.

Smoking by Pregnant Women
The annual report by the city’s health department shows that 203 of 967 (21 percent) pregnant Appleton women reported smoking during their pregnancy last year.

Eggebrecht said public health nurses work hard to reduce the amount of carbon monoxide and nicotine consumed during pregnancy, especially during the third trimester.

“Just like good nutrition, a good source of oxygen is very important,” Eggebrecht said. “If you can’t completely quit, a significant reduction in consumption shows some benefits.”

Smoking can cause low birth weight of new babies. The report shows that about 9 percent of the babies born to mothers who smoked were born under the 2,500 gram benchmark.

Dr. Mark Hallett, senior medical director at ThedaCare, a Fox Cities-based health system, said the percentage of mothers who smoke isn’t surprising, given the size of the overall smoking population, which stands at about 19 percent nationwide.

“But it’s definitely concerning from the standpoint of low birth weight and other problems with maternal smoking,” Hallett said. “I would hope the fact that a mom could be smoking for two would be an incentive for her to quit.”

Statewide in 2012, about 14 percent of 67,229 pregnant moms smoked, state DHS data shows.

Chicken pox, pertussis returns
Another area for concern in the report is the uptick in vaccine preventable diseases, Hallett said.

The city reported 12 cases of chickenpox in 2013, along with 22 cases of pertussis. There were no cases of measles or mumps.

“It’s really clear that it can become serious in small number of people,” Hallett said. “I would hope parents would consider the advice of doctors and nurses more so than misinformation from celebrity figures.”

Eggebrecht said parents who opt out of vaccinations are putting the entire community at risk.

Positive Indicators
Appleton is embracing a more physically active lifestyle and along with the smoking ban emacted in 2005  it could be having an impact on death statistics, Eggebrecht said.

Heart attacks and strokes claimed more lives in 2013 than other causes, but the trend is in the right direction, he said.

“I see an uptick in walking, riding bikes and attending restaurants that have healthier food options,” Eggebrecht said. “We need to be asking ourselves about our daily choices: did I get 45 minutes of exercise, eat right, smoke, and how much sleep did I get?”

A reduction in gastrointestinal diseases was another positive point in the report, Hallett said.

Cases involving salmonella, a bacteria, and giardia, a parasite, were both down in the past decade. However, cases tied to cryptosporidium, a parasite found in pools and lakes, were up from 3 in 2003 to 12 last year.

“Crypto is more resistant to chlorine than giardia,” Hallett said. “I think people have gotten message they shouldn’t drink water from streams in Wisconsin, but the big key is also not to swim when there could be diarrhea in the water.”

Source: http://www.postcrescent.com/

Fight Over 'Little Pink Pill' Raises Sexism Questions

It’s called the “little pink pill,” a tiny tablet that could have a huge impact on treating female sexual dysfunction. If it’s approved, it would become the first drug of its kind on the market.

But that’s a big IF.

The drug Flibanserin is locked in a heated battle for approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, raising controversial questions about why there are so many sexual enhancement drugs available for men and zero for women.

Cindy Whitehead, the founder and COO of Sprout Pharmaceuticals, a Raleigh, North Carolina-based company focused on producing only Flibanserin, has been fighting for FDA approval for the drug for three years.

“There are 25 approved drugs for some form of male sexual dysfunction, but still a great big zero for the most common form of FSD [female sexual dysfunction],” Whitehead said.

“No matter how or why we got here, we're here, and we've got to come up with a solution for it.”

Flibanserin is more than curing a weak libido. It’s specifically for treating Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder, or HSDD. Gynecologist and sexual health crusader Dr. Lauren Streicher explained that HSDD goes much deeper than just a low sex drive.

“[HSDD] is a very specific problem in a woman who doesn't think about sex, she doesn't fantasize, she doesn't desire sex,” Streicher said. “What makes it different is that it’s distressing to her. This has a negative impact on her. She’s worried about it, she’s frustrated.”

According to the International Journal of Women’s Health, as many as 1 in 10 women suffer from HSDD. While many doctors agree HSDD is a problem that should be addressed, there are no medical treatment options.

Whitehead believes Flibanserin is the solution to solving female sexual dysfunction, but said it’s not accurate to call the drug “female Viagra” because it doesn't work in the same way that Viagra does for men.

“Viagra is a blood-flow issue, a mechanical issue, and Flibanserin works on key chemicals in the brain,” she said.

Scientists have known for years that a woman’s most significant sexual organ is actually her brain, which is what makes female desire disorders so hard to treat.

Flibanserin is taken daily at bedtime, but it’s not a hormonal supplement. Instead, the pill manipulates certain chemicals in the brain to achieve desire.

To test it in clinical trials, Whitehead said it was important to find women who genuinely suffer from HSDD, and not just boredom.

“There's a diagnostic questionnaire that physicians go through, and they really can pretty quickly get to whether or not this is a relationship dynamic or something that's happening biologically,” she said.

Amanda Parrish said that’s exactly what she was facing. A mother of four from Nashville, Tenn., Parrish said she used to have a smoldering sex life with her husband, but over time, things cooled off. She said the problem wasn't with him, but with her.

“I felt like even though we were close and having a great relationship there was something that wasn't extremely gratifying,” Parrish said. “There was something just not there, so I was in search of something that would make that happen.”

Feeling pressure to be a so-called “wholesome soccer mom,” Parrish said she never discussed the issue with her friends but had a feeling she wasn't alone. “If you asked ten ladies on the street I think seven or eight would fess up that their sex life is not what they wanted it to be,” she said.

After filling out a questionnaire, Parrish found out she had symptoms of HSDD and was selected to participate in the Flibanserin clinical trials. She had to take the pills every day and keep a diary of her progress.

“The diary was very personal,” Parrish said. “Every morning it would go off and I would have to answer if I had sex, if I had initiated sex, if I had turned it down, if I had lubricated, if I had orgasmed. ... Within a couple weeks I began to notice a dramatic difference in the way I responded.”

Around 1,000 women participated in the clinical trials. According to Sprout Pharmaceutical’s results, on average, women taking Flibanserin doubled their number of so-called “satisfying sexual events” with taking the drug, and reported a 50 percent increase in sexual desire.

But about 15 percent of those women in the clinical trials dropped out because of side effects, including sleepiness, dizziness and anxiety, which Flibanserin proponents point out seem mild compared to the side effects listed in the now iconic Viagra commercials, such as nausea, diarrhea and the risk of erections lasting over four hours.

The FDA last rejected Flibanserin in December 2013, though Whitehead and Sprout Pharmaceuticals are appealing the FDA’s decision.

“We heard from the FDA in the simplest term, ‘no,’” Whitehead said. “What they basically said to us is in the risk-benefit evaluation. They felt that Flibanserin's effect was only modest, and, therefore, they didn't give us an approval.”

The FDA’s rejection of Flibanserin ignited a storm of controversy with many crying sexism. The government agency was bombarded with letters in support of the drug from prominent women’s groups and even a handful of congresswomen.

“There’s absolutely some sexism at play,” Streicher said. “No one is making this up. This is not a hallmark holiday that someone just decided to invent something in order to sell more of something.”

The FDA declined “Nightline’s” request for an interview about Flibanserin and declined to comment on the drug, but said in a statement that they are, “committed to supporting the development of therapies for medical conditions related to female sexual dysfunction” and denied allegations of gender bias. Read the FDA's full statement here.

Some doctors believe Flibanserin was rejected for a very simple reason: it’s an ineffective drug for a non-existent problem.

Dr. Adriane Fugh-Berman, a general practitioner and associate professor at Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC), is also the director of the medical center’s research project PharmedOut, which analyzes the effects of pharmaceutical marketing on prescribing practices. She said the buzz created around Flibanserin is a “classic marketing technique” for new drugs.

“It’s not sexist for the FDA not to approve a drug that it doesn't believe is effective or safe,” Fugh-Berman said. “It’s a classic marketing technique to first create a problem, and then sell the solution, and that’s what’s going on here,”

“Of course sexual desire varies by person and it varies by phase of life, but that doesn't make it a disease,” she continued. “This is a drug with minimal effectiveness, if any, and it’s meant to be taken every day for a condition that is not of a disease.”

At the FDA’s request, Sprout Pharmaceuticals is running two more trials on Flibanserin before the agency brings it up for review again. If Sprout wins the appeal, Flibanserin could be available with a prescription as early as next year.

“I will be the first one waiting for my prescription,” Parrish said. “I believe that strongly in how it works and that women deserve an equal opportunity to enjoy and become equal members in their sex life as men have become with the products available.”

U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Full Statement to "Nightline":

The FDA is committed to supporting the development of therapies for medical conditions related to female sexual dysfunction. The agency has approved treatments for pain during sexual intercourse and vaginal dryness associated with menopause. Additionally, the FDA has also identified female sexual dysfunction as one of 20 disease areas of high priority and focused attention. The agency will be actively soliciting patients’ perspectives on their condition and its impact on daily life.

The FDA cannot discuss any drug that is still under regulatory consideration. The agency evaluates drugs based on science and strongly rejects claims of gender bias. Currently, the FDA continues to work with the company to determine whether the drug’s benefits could outweigh its risks. The FDA strives to protect and advance all important areas of women’s health, and the agency is committed to working with companies to develop safe and effective treatments for female sexual dysfunction.

Sneaky Things That Kill Your Sex Drive

Has a tepid drive been messing your relationship? Don't panic! One of these less-than-obvious culprits may be at fault. And the good news is most of them have a fairly easy fix. So read on and get that pleasure back, stat!

Birth control pills

Exactly when you were ready to have safe, super-hot sex, your child blocker goes and hinders your sex drive. What a killjoy! Anyhow it’s a true probability. One recent study found that birth control pills essentially diminishing circulating levels of testosterone - that is the hormone that provides for us girls a get-up-and-go sex drive. If you suspect your pill is causing problems “downtown,” it might just be a matter of switching scripts. One formula might boost libido for one woman but kill it for another, so discuss alternate options with your guy.

Antidepressants

Hold up - if antidepressants help your state of mind, shouldn't they support your sex drive as well? If only. It works out that numerous antidepressants can decrease testosterone levels and even curtail blood flow to your nether regions. That means you or your guy might be in a happier place, but your sex drives? Not so much. Talk to your doc about trying out a different prescription, or consider a trip to the gym: A recent study found that women on antidepressants who started an exercise routine or stepped up their current one reported a decrease in those libido-lowering side effects.

Allergy Meds

Antihistamines are made to dry out your nasal sections, however did you know they likewise dry out your vagina? What's more that can prompt frightful sex—which of course would put a young lady less in the mood. While a flask of lube can help smooth things over for you, antihistamines might additionally disturb your guy. A large portion of them hold pseudoephedrine, a vasoconstrictor limits blood flow below the belt. Translation: Until he lays off the meds for a day or two, he might have problems pitching a tent in your campsite.

Alcohol

A glass of wine pre-hanky-panky won’t just lower your inhibitions, it can also send your sex drive plummeting. In fact, knocking back a couple of drinks before you jump in the sack can actually dull your nerve endings and leave you orgasm-less. Plus, if your guy likes to hit the bottle a little too often, a damaged liver can elevate his levels of estrogen and lower his levels of testosterone, resulting in one sexless relationship. We definitely won’t drink to that.

High cholesterol

According to one study, women with too-high levels of cholesterol are two-and-a-half times more likely to have not-so-great nooky than those whose cholesterol levels are in check.  That may seem like an odd thing, but here’s why it makes sense: Cholesterol can build up on the walls of the arteries and limit blood flow to the pelvic area, which decreases sensitivity down below. FYI, that’s also why high cholesterol levels can take down your man’s erection like a bulldozer. To rule this cause out or get it under control, head to your doc for a blood test.

Low Testosterone

If you haven’t seen one of those cheesy late-night ads in the past year, we've got a news flash: Low levels of testosterone can wreck a man’s sex drive. However, contrary to what the ads might lead you to believe, you don’t have to be a really old dude to have it. True, levels tend to decrease as a guy gets older, but there are a variety of other things that contribute to low-T  from high levels of iron to a defective pituitary gland—that have nothing to do with age. So if your guy’s drive has been in park for more than four weeks, encourage him to get his levels checked.

Maxine’s Intima Review: Does It Really Work?

What is Maxine’s Intima?

Maxine’s Intima is a libido enhancement product for women; the manufacturer claims that it is a nutritional formula that combines herbal extracts with floral essences as well as specific supporting factors for a balanced sexual synergy. But there has been no actual evidence to suggest that it help to improve sexual satisfaction, orgasm intensity and libido in females. There are lots of negative customer reviews about this product, though it claims to be an effective product. For maximum benefits it must be used consistently. This product has no official website and it is sold by the third party websites. The cost of this product is not very high but it doesn’t come with a money back guarantee.

Ingredients and how do they function

The ingredients used in this product include herbal extracts with floral essences and components that heightens female libido.

• Dong Quai Root (300mg)       
• Asparagus racemosus (300mg)           
• Withania somnifera (200mg)  
• Paeonia suffruticosa (100mg) 
• Chinese Yam (100mg)
• Quebracho Bark (50mg)         
• Ginger Root (50mg)    
• Sundew (50mg)
• Seville Orange Blossom (25mg)          
• East Indian Sandalwood (25mg)
• Damascus Rose (25mg)
• Madagascar Vanilla Orchid (25mg)    
• L-Tyrosine (200mg)    
• L-Histidine (150mg)
• Royal Jelly (freeze dried, 100mg)

 Benefit

• Doesn’t contain gluten, starch, yeast, preservatives or artificial color
• It is an affordable female libido enhancement product
• The amount of ingredients are given

Drawbacks

• Majority of the product reviews are negative
• It is not very effective in giving you the desired result
• The ingredients are not elucidated

Dosage

There are 60 tablets in one bottle. It is recommended to take two tablets with any beverage for boosted libido and sensuality.

Side effects

Consult your health care provider before using this product. It contains L – Tyrosine that is considered possibly safe if it is taken by adults. It is safe when used in appropriate doses. But as you see this product contains 200 mg L – Tyrosine which is unsafe and may cause certain side effects such as headache, nausea, fatigue, joint pain and heartburn.

Final word

Maxine’s Intima is a Nutraceutical and botanical Formula for increased Libido and sensuality. It is only for adult women who suffer from low libido. It comes with floral essences along with herbal extracts. The recommended doses can improve your sexual performance and helps you to achieve intense orgasm but some of the ingredients such as L tyrosine can give you certain types of side effects. This product is sold by third party websites and doesn’t have a money back guarantee.  Don’t waste your precious time and money on this product and search for a product that offers a full money back guarantee to prove that it actually works.

Bremelanotide Treatment Improves Sexual Function and Reduces Associated Distress Levels in Women

A recent randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase IIb trial of bremelanotide for the treatment of female sexual dysfunction actually required two stages of analysis, both of which were presented in New York City on May 6, 2014, at the American Psychiatric Association’s 167th annual meeting.

Bremelanotide is a melanocortin-receptor-4 agonist that targets a receptor system in the central nervous system that is active in such areas as hair and skin pigmentation, sleep, and weight, as well as sexual arousal.

The first stage of research, explained Leonard R. DeRogatis, PhD, director of the Maryland Center for Sexual Health, was designing a more thorough questionnaire that would measure not just women’s sexual dysfunction, but also their distress at that lack of function. As he pointed out, “You can have all the symptoms of sexual dysfunction in the world, but if you have no desire, you can’t be given a diagnosis of distress.” Or, in lay terms, “Some menopausal women say, ‘Thank God that’s over.’”

Accordingly, his team of researchers added two items to the 13 existing questions on the FSDS-R, thus creating what he called the Female Sexual Distress Scale-Desire/Arousal/Orgasm.

The two new items ask women: “How often did you feel concerned by difficulties with sexual arousal?” and “How often did you feel frustrated by problems with orgasm?” over the past 30 days. There were a number of subtopics, such as “How often did you feel embarrassed about your sexual problems?” and “How often did you feel bothered by low sexual desire?"

Armed with the enhanced questionnaire, the study then enrolled approximately 725 premenopausal women in the 12-week study. Each of the participants was in a stable, monogamous relationship that had been ongoing for at least six months, and many of them were in long-term marriages, according to Anita H. Clayton, PhD, a professor of psychiatry and neurobehavioral sciences at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. She said she did not know if any were lesbian relationships, but she said the results theoretically should be the same for both heterosexual and same-sex partnerships.

The participants had all been diagnosed with hypoactive sexual desire disorder, female sexual arousal disorder, or both conditions, for at least six months.

The study medication was self-administered at a dosage of 0.75 mg, 1.25 mg, or 1.75 mg, by subcutaneous injection usually in the abdominal area. According to Clayton, bremelanotide is effective for 24 hours, and it can be safely used as many as 16 times in a month.

In its most important results, using the new questionnaire, the trial found significant improvements at the highest dosage of bremelanotide in terms of frequency of desire, frequency of arousal, ease of arousal, continuation of arousal, and orgasm, compared with the cohort on placebo. For instance, the mean change in orgasms was a reported increase of 1 for the 1.75 mg dosage versus just 0.4 for the group on placebo. Frequency of desire was nearly double: a mean of 0.9 for the group on 1.75 mg of bremelanotide and 0.5 for the control group.

If they get approval from the Food and Drug Administration, the researchers hope to start phase III trials by the end of the year.

Source: http://www.hcplive.com

Vasofem Review: Does This Female Sexual Enhancer Pill Really Work?

What is Vasofem?
Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) has become a common problem in women. It is age related and progressive.  A new product Vasofem has been created for every women suffering from this problem. But the product is not yet approved by FDA. The company claims that the product is effective in treating various female dysfunctions that are caused due to physical, psychological and hormonal factors.

Manufacturer Information:
Zonagen, Inc in The Woodlands, Texas, is the manufacturer of Vasofem. This product is said to be a winning treatment for FSD.

How Does Vasofem Work?
The theory behind Vasofem is that, it increases blood flow towards the genitalia to heighten the sensitivity of the sexual organs. It improves your ability to stay sexually active. When the blood reaches to the sensitive parts such as clitoris and vulva, it causes swelling making the sex organs highly sensitive. It initiates the creation of natural lubrication that makes the sexual intercourse enjoyable.


Phentolamine is an active ingredient in Vasofem that urges your brain to start blood flow to the genitals for giving you the desired result. There may be some other ingredients used in this product but they are not listed anywhere. The manufacturer claims that this product is similar to Viagra, but the main thing is that people should know about its ingredients.  This product can be taken orally twenty minutes before the sexual activity.

Benefits

• Vasofem increase blood flow to the genitals for better sexual performance
• It is a new treatment for female sexual dysfunction

Drawbacks

• All the specific details about this product is missing
• There are no customer reviews to ensure that this product is safe

Final Word:
Vasofem is introduced as a new product for women suffering from FSD but it has not been approved by FDA. According to the claims made by the company this product is effective as Viagra and increase the sensitivity of the sexual organs. There have been harmful drugs available on the market and this product also doesn’t provide satisfactory testing results.

National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is a nationwide observance that sheds light on the disease's impact on women and girls. Every year on March 10, and throughout the month of March, thousands of people, advocacy organizations, and local and state public health officials host events and share facts about HIV/AIDS. You are invited to:

• Learn about National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and HIV/AIDS
• Spread the word
• Join our partners at events around the country

HIV/AIDS is a serious public health issue for women and girls. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1.1 million people in the United States are living with HIV. Of those people, one in four (25%) is a woman 13 or older. Approximately 27,000 women have HIV but do not know they have the disease. Together we can:

• Encourage women and girls to get tested and know their status
• Help decrease the number of women who are HIV-positive
• Increase awareness of safe practices to prevent HIV infection
• Help people become aware of the levels of care and treatment

Read what Nancy C. Lee, M.D., Director, Office on Women’s Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has to say about National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in her blog

Top 10 Ways You Can Take Action Against HIV/AIDS

• Get tested. Many women and girls who are HIV-positive don’t know they have the disease. The only way to know your status is to get tested. Find an HIV testing site near you. Nervous? Take a friend!
• Encourage a friend or family member to get tested, too. It’s easier and more affordable than ever to get tested, thanks to the Affordable Care Act. Most insurers must cover HIV testing without a copay for sexually active women.
• Understand how HIV is spread. Most women get HIV from having sex with a man who is HIV-positive. But HIV is spread other ways, too.
• Seek treatment if you are HIV-positive. Treatment can help people with HIV live longer, healthier lives. It also greatly reduces the chances of passing HIV on to others. Learn how to live with the disease.
• Protect yourself. You can’t tell whether someone is HIV-positive by looking at them. You’re in control of your health. Learn what steps you can take to protect yourself from HIV.
• Share knowledge. Talk to your friends, family, and others in your life about HIV/AIDS, how it’s spread, and what they can do to prevent it.
• Facebook, tweet, pin, and post. Help us reach more women and girls by joining the conversation online. We’ve made it easy for you with our sample posts, infocards, and infographic. Ask your friends and followers to get involved, too - and be sure you use the #NWGHAAD and #takeaction hashtags!
• Show your support! Update your social media profile pictures with a Twibbon today. You can also update your Facebook cover photo throughout the month of March.
• Find a Meetup in your area. Participate in activities that promote HIV/AIDS prevention and testing, as well as continuous care for women and girls who have the disease.
• Follow us! For the latest news on HIV/AIDS and other important women’s health issues, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

By participating in National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, you will unite with others in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Together we can offer support and hope, reduce the stigma of HIV/AIDS, and empower women and girls to “Share Knowledge. Take Action.” 

Source: http://www.womenshealth.gov/nwghaad/

Dr. Lauren Streicher Will Teach You to Love Sex Again

Female sexual dysfunction affects 40% women and 60% of postmenopausal women. The number one mistake is accretive sexual dysfunction as traditional.

What causes it?

Number one is low sexual desire. It should ensue to medication; it may be depression. It may start out that you’re having painful intercourse. Then after all you’re attending to have decreased libido, as a result of people don’t wish to try and do painful things.

What usually causes the pain?

Sometimes it’s endometriosis, and typically it’s vaginal dryness. If somebody doesn’t lubricate, that fairly often as a result of sexual hormones issues: menopause or birth control pills. Additionally you would like an good blood supply to the vagina in order to have normal lubrication, and women with diabetes and heart disease often have a decline in their blood supply in that area.

How does one fix it?

It may somewhat be if a lady uses the proper lubricant, she’s attending to be fine.

And if not?

Women are nervous concerning taking hormones. But local vaginal estrogen is safe for essentially everyone to use. We’re using this in women with breast cancer because the systemic absorption is so low that it doesn’t even increase their blood levels beyond the postmenopausal range.

Are there any recent breakthroughs that ladies ought to remember of?

There’s a tool known as InTone that reproduces what a pelvic floor therapist will. There are variety of latest product, like nonestrogen product for treatment of vaginal dryness that most women are not familiar with.

So typically a prescription is necessary?

Would you say to a man who couldn’t maintain an erection that he shouldn’t consider Viagra? Right now there are 25 drugs approved for male sexual health, and other than the vaginal dryness drugs, there are zero approved for female sexual health. That’s a real problem.

Any promising medicine within the pipeline?

Flibanserin has been shown in the medical literature to have an impact on female libido. It is going back to the FDA [for approval] in a couple of months. You say that most doctors are not up on these solutions. Why? Knowledge is highly variable depending upon where somebody trains. At Northwestern, sexual health is not a part of the residency. I’m trying to change that. It sadly all comes down to funding.

New Agent for Female Sexual Dysfunction Has Promise

The melanocortin-receptor-4-agonist bremelanotide seemed to cut back distress and increase satisfaction among premenopausal ladies with feminine sexual dysfunction, researchers rumored here.

In phase II clinical studies, a 1.75-mg hypodermic dose of the experimental bremelanotide result in a mean reduction of regarding 1.1 points in feminine Sexual Distress Scale-Desire/Arousal/Orgasm score compared with a mean reduction of regarding 0.6 points among placebo patients (P<0.001), said Sheryl Kingsberg, PhD, from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, and colleagues.

Combining the 1.25-mg dose and also the 1.75-mg dose, the reduction was regarding 0.9 points (P<0.01 versus placebo), Kingsberg unhappy at an advertisement presentation at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists annual meeting.

"There aren't any approved medication for hypoactive sexual desire disorder in ladies," she told MedPage these days.

"Female sexual dysfunction could be a category of disorders that represent the foremost outstanding sexual disorders in ladies," she went on to clarify. "You could still have sex and it would be pleasurable, but it is about wanting sex."

In a companion study that specifically checked out hypoactive sexual desire disorder, David Portman, MD, director of the Columbus Center for Women's Health analysis in Ohio, said that treatment with bremelanotide resulted in ladies boosting the amount of satisfactory sexual events in a month.

The study by Kingsberg's cluster targeted on the analysis of how at-home, self-administered bremelanotide mitigated the strain hooked up to hypoactive sexual desire.

"The FDA needs that the treatment cut back stress on the feminine Sexual Distress Scale-Desire/Arousal/Orgasm," Kingsberg same. "We demonstrated a dose-dependent efficacy for bremelanotide to cut back the distress of feeling fazed by low sexual desire."

The 12-week study had 97 ladies who were randomised to received placebo, 87 ladies who were treated with a 0.75 mg dose of bremelanotide, that was a dose that wasn't more practical than placebo, 75e ladies who were treated with 0.25 mg of bremelanotide, and 74 ladies on a high dose of 0.75 mg. the ladies self-administered the drug on an as-needed basis.

Responder rates for satisfying sexual events were 37 for placebo, 38% for 0.75-mg dose, 48% for 1.25-mg dose, 55% for 1.75-mg dose, and 51 for one.25-mg and 0.75-mg pooled dose. Responder rates were 45%’ 49%, 60%, 69%, and 64%, severally, on the feminine Sexual Distress Scale-Desire/Arousal/Orgasm.

Patients taking bremelanotide reported more nausea, flushing, and headaches than those on placebo. About 5% of the placebo patients and 10% of the 1.75-mg dose of bremelanotide patients withdrew from the study because of adverse events, but the drug was generally well tolerated, Kingsberg said.

"Bremelanotide has finished its phase II studies and designs for phase III are now awaiting approval from the FDA," she said.

In the phase IIB, 24-week study by Portman's group, women self-administered the drug about 45 minutes prior to anticipate sexual activity. Of the 327 participants, the majority had either mixed hypoactive sexual desire disorder or female sexual arousal disorder with a primary diagnosis of hypoactive sexual desire disorder.

The mean change in sexual satisfying events with was increased by 0.3 events per month among the 76 placebo patients; by 0.7 events a month among the 62 women assigned to the 1.75-mg dose (P<0.05); and by 0.7 events per month in the 128 patients in the pooled 1.25-mg and 1.75-mg dose (P<0.05).

"In premenopausal hypoactive sexual desire disorder, subcutaneous bremelanotide yielded improvements across all key hypoactive sexual desire disorder measures with robust dose-dependence attaining statistical significance at 1.75 mg," the authors concluded.