Treating Her Sexual Dysfunction

Lost that lovin' feeling? There may be help.

Alista is a new drug being tested for the treatment of Female Sexual Arousal Disorder (FSAD). Currently, there are no drugs with FDA approval for this indication. Data presented at the annual meeting of the American Urological Association showed Alista improve sexual arousal and satisfaction in post-menopausal women with FSAD. Alista is a cream form of alprostadil, which is a natural hormone found in the body.

In a study led by Marc Gittelman, M.D., 78 women were recruited to test the cream. Half of the women were treated with Alista cream, and the other half received a placebo. After being treated, the women watched visually stimulating material and had their responses measured. The results? The treated women noticed significant differences in the level of sexual arousal.

While Alista is targeted at women who have problems with arousal, lack of desire is the most common sexual complaint voiced by women. Called hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD), it's usually associated with a lack of sexual dreams and fantasies. This often bothers the patient more than her partner and can be the result of a boring sexual routine.

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Michael O'Reilly, M.D. is a Women's Health Expert at ThirdAge.


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