madman
Super Moderator
Nasal Spray Increases Libido in Women
A new nasal spray is being tested on hundreds of Australian women who struggle with low sex drive.
There is currently no approved treatment for women of child-bearing age to help boost their lagging libido, which can cause them considerable distress.
"When women go to their doctor and they say they've lost interest in sex and it's affecting them and their relationship and their wellbeing, they're often too quickly dismissed," said Monash University's Professor Susan Davis, Director of the Women's Health Research Program.
"They are told it's because they're working and they've got kids and they've got stress and not sleeping," she said.
Professor Davis is investigating a molecule called BP101 to see whether it can help treat women.
"This molecule acts within the central brain pathways, particularly what we call the GABA pathway that influences sexual behavior," she said.
The spray delivers the synthetic peptide to the nerves in the nasal cavity and into the brain.
About 480 women aged between 21 and 50 are being recruited at 10 sites across Australia.
A previous pilot study involving up to 200 women was used to test the therapy's safety and effectiveness.
"This molecule has been investigated in terms of its safety," Professor Davis said.
The latest development comes more than 20 years after the arrival of Viagra in Australia to treat male sexual dysfunction.
"We have treatments for male sexual dysfunction, we have none for female sexual dysfunction in premenopausal women," said Professor Davis.
New research by Monash researchers also uncovered the extent of the problem among Australian women.
A large study that was published last year found that about 10 percent of women aged 18 to 39 experienced low sexual desire, causing them considerable distress.
The prevalence of sexual dysfunction escalates with age with about one in three women aged 40 to 65 experiencing low sexual desire.
"The impact on their psychological wellbeing is as severe as having a chronic condition like type 2 diabetes or severe lower back pain," Professor Davis said.
Only last year, testosterone was approved as a treatment for postmenopausal women.
A new nasal spray is being tested on hundreds of Australian women who struggle with low sex drive.
There is currently no approved treatment for women of child-bearing age to help boost their lagging libido, which can cause them considerable distress.
"When women go to their doctor and they say they've lost interest in sex and it's affecting them and their relationship and their wellbeing, they're often too quickly dismissed," said Monash University's Professor Susan Davis, Director of the Women's Health Research Program.
"They are told it's because they're working and they've got kids and they've got stress and not sleeping," she said.
Professor Davis is investigating a molecule called BP101 to see whether it can help treat women.
"This molecule acts within the central brain pathways, particularly what we call the GABA pathway that influences sexual behavior," she said.
The spray delivers the synthetic peptide to the nerves in the nasal cavity and into the brain.
About 480 women aged between 21 and 50 are being recruited at 10 sites across Australia.
A previous pilot study involving up to 200 women was used to test the therapy's safety and effectiveness.
"This molecule has been investigated in terms of its safety," Professor Davis said.
The latest development comes more than 20 years after the arrival of Viagra in Australia to treat male sexual dysfunction.
"We have treatments for male sexual dysfunction, we have none for female sexual dysfunction in premenopausal women," said Professor Davis.
New research by Monash researchers also uncovered the extent of the problem among Australian women.
A large study that was published last year found that about 10 percent of women aged 18 to 39 experienced low sexual desire, causing them considerable distress.
The prevalence of sexual dysfunction escalates with age with about one in three women aged 40 to 65 experiencing low sexual desire.
"The impact on their psychological wellbeing is as severe as having a chronic condition like type 2 diabetes or severe lower back pain," Professor Davis said.
Only last year, testosterone was approved as a treatment for postmenopausal women.
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