Low Libido - New Literature

I am working on some new information on low libido - natural and proven solutions. In the meantime I wanted to share some recent articles. Short version: stay off birth control pills! Menopause. 2006 Jan-Feb;13(1):46-56. Hypoactive sexual desire disorder in postmenopausal women: US results from the Women's International Study of Health and Sexuality (WISHeS). Leiblum SR, Koochaki PE, Rodenberg CA, Barton IP, Rosen RC. University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, 08854, USA. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) among US women by reproductive status and age and to explore the correlates of sexually related distress. DESIGN: The Women's International Study on Health and Sexuality questionnaire was mailed to a national sample of US women in 2000. The survey included validated questionnaires: the Short Form-36, which measures overall health status; the Profile of Female Sexual Function, which assesses sexual desire; and the Personal Distress Scale, which measures distress caused by low desire. Four groups of women were studied: surgically postmenopausal, aged 20 to 49 years and 50 to 70 years; premenopausal, aged 20 to 49 years; and naturally postmenopausal, aged 50 to 70 years. Clinically derived cutoff Profile of Female Sexual Function and Personal Distress Scale scores were used to classify women with HSDD and determine its prevalence. The relations between sexual desire and frequency of sexual activity or relationship satisfaction were assessed. Overall health status of HSDD women and women with normal desire were compared. RESULTS: The prevalence of HSDD ranged from 9% in naturally postmenopausal women to 26% in younger surgically postmenopausal women. The prevalence of HSDD was significantly greater among surgically postmenopausal women, aged 20 to 49 years, than premenopausal women of similar age, whereas there were no significant differences in the prevalence between surgically postmenopausal women, aged 50 to 70 years, and naturally postmenopausal women. For many women, HSDD was associated with emotional and psychological distress as well as significantly lower sexual and partner satisfaction. HSDD was also associated with significant decrements in general health status, including aspects of mental and physical health. CONCLUSIONS: HSDD is prevalent among women at all reproductive stages, with younger surgically postmenopausal women at greater risk, and is associated with a less active sex life and decreased sexual and relationship satisfaction. J Sex Med. 2007 Mar;4(2):364-71.Click here to read Links Differences between pre- and postmenopausal women in cues for sexual desire. McCall K, Meston C. Both Clinical Psychology & University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA. INTRODUCTION: Recently, McCall and Meston presented an assessment tool for empirically categorizing stimuli associated with sexual desire in women. Significant differences in cues resulting in sexual desire were found between women with and without hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). AIM: The present study examined differences in cues resulting in sexual desire between pre- and postmenopausal women with and without sexual desire concerns using the Cues for Sexual Desire Scale (CSDS) which assesses four distinct aspects of desire motivators: (i) Love/Emotional Bonding Cues; (ii) Erotic/Explicit Cues; (iii) Visual/Proximity Cues; and (iv) Implicit/Romantic Cues. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The Female Sexual Function Index and the CSDS. METHODS: Women included premenopausal women with no sexual concerns (N = 35), premenopausal women with low sexual desire (N = 30), postmenopausal women with no sexual concerns (N = 21), and postmenopausal women with low sexual desire (N = 39). RESULTS: Consistent with prior findings, women with low sexual desire reported significantly less Love/Emotional Bonding Cues, Erotic/Explicit Cues, Implicit/Romantic Cues, and had significantly lower CSDS total scores as compared with women with no sexual difficulties. Postmenopausal women were more likely to report cues associated with Love/Emotional Bonding as compared with premenopausal women. CONCLUSIONS: There were significant differences between women with and without sexual desire concerns in Love/Emotional Bonding Cues, Erotic/Explicit Cues, Implicit/Romantic Cues, and CSDS total scores. There were no significant differences between pre- and postmenopausal women in Erotic/Explicit Cues, Visual/Proximity Cues, or Implicit/Romantic Cues. Interestingly, postmenopausal women with and without HSDD endorsed more Love/Emotional Bonding Cues resulting in feelings of sexual desire as compared with premenopausal women. J Sex Med. 2006 Sep;3(5):878-82.Click here to read Links Comparison of androgens in women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder: those on combined oral contraceptives (COCs) vs. those not on COCs. Warnock JK, Clayton A, Croft H, Segraves R, Biggs FC. University of Oklahoma-Psychiatry, Tulsa, OK 74135, USA. julia-warnock@ouhsc.edu INTRODUCTION: Approximately one out of four sexually active women in the United States uses some form of hormonal contraceptive method because they provide the most effective reversible method of birth control available. However, little attention has been paid to possible adverse effects of combined oral contraceptives (COCs) on sexual functioning. AIM: The aim of this study was to examine the potential effects of COCs on women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). It was hypothesized that female patients with generalized, acquired HSDD on COCs have lower androgen levels than those not on COCs. METHODS: The patients were healthy premenopausal women with HSDD, aged 22-50 years. Subjects had a history of adequate sexual desire, interest, and functioning. Participants were required to be in a stable, monogamous, heterosexual relationship and were screened for any medication or medical or psychiatric disorders that impact desire. The patients met operational criteria for global, acquired HSDD. The 106 patients were divided into two groups: those on COCs (N = 43) and those not on COCs (N = 63). A two-tailed t-test comparison was made between the two groups comparing free and total testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome measures are the differences between the two groups comparing free testosterone, total testosterone, and SHBG. RESULTS: These patients with HSDD on COCs had significantly lower free and total testosterone levels compared with those who were not on COCs. The SHBG was significantly higher in the group on COCs compared with those who were not on COCs. CONCLUSION: The result of this study suggests that COCs in premenopausal women with HSDD are associated with lower androgen levels than those not on COCs. Further research is required to determine if low androgen levels secondary to COCs impact female sexual desire.