What is being touted as Viagra for women or the female Viagra, is a tiny pink pill called Flibanserin that has little if any effect on the sexual drive (libido) of women at any age.
The answer to the question, “Why do I have no sex drive,” is that females, just like men, often have low testosterone.
What is not needed is a drug that works on the Central Nervous System, falls into the same category as the over-prescribed anti-depressant drugs and was first rejected by the FDA in 2010 because of minimal benefits and significant side effects (including low blood pressure, fainting, and fatigue).
Sex drive peak and hormones
*Sex drive peak, or sex drive at any age, is more a hormonal matter of how much the natural hormone testosterone has declined and the effects of other hormones like progesterone, thyroid and estradiol. For example, women between the ages of 20 to 40 lose 50% of their testosterone. These levels continue to decline each year. This affects not only sex drive but lean muscle, energy, body fat, mood, sleep and drive and ambition – just like men.
Our Natural Bio Health clinics in Austin, San Antonio and College Station, Texas have treated thousands of women suffering from low sex drive, low energy, poor sleep quality, loss of muscle and increased body fat for more than 15 years. Our lab tests of total and free testosterone and Sex Hormone Binding Globulin shows the ladies the current state of their hormone levels and the effects of stress on their hormones and their quality of life.
Taking Antidepressants? Sleep medications?
Many women come to us on anti-depressants and sleeping pills, often feeling miserable. For most women, treatment with testosterone and other bioidentical hormones can alleviate most if not all of their symptoms and free them from the drugs that were prescribed.
*The drug companies, with FDA approval on vote of 18 to 6, are hoping to cash in on a rush by women to a pill that has been shown to barely increase sexual desire from 2.8 times per month to 4.5 per month. The placebo pill, in the same study, increased sexual desire from 2.7 times per month to 3.7 per month. Not much difference between the active pill and the placebo.
In a study in 2002, where women were given testosterone, it was determined that women went from having 1 sexual thought per week to at least 3 times per week. And the higher their dose, the more sexual thoughts they had!
What will work for female sexual dysfunction?
Do you feel you have no sex drive? Is your spouse concerned he or she may be the cause of your lack of interest? Is it affecting your relationship? Unfortunately, many women (1) do not know that testosterone is NOT just for men; (2) do not talk with their provider about libido as most providers do not discuss sexual interest and drive in female patients; (3) do not know that birth control pills, hysterectomies, menopause, and medications including anti-depressants can negatively affect their sex drive.
Many times, just increasing testosterone levels and getting off medications can be enough to restore a healthy sex drive. Yes, sex is good for your health. Other times, it may be necessary to treat stress, other hormones and health in general including sleep. Of course, there are more severe cases that can only be addressed by counseling with professionals (e.g. childhood and adult abuse and sexual assault).
What can you do?
If you feel like you or your wife or significant other is experiencing a lack of sexual desire, the first step is to consult with a provider who feels comfortable discussing sexual dysfunction and preferably is experienced in treating sexual dysfunction. The providers at Natural Bio Health are available to discuss your symptoms and your concerns and provide possible alternatives and solutions. Lab tests are an important part of determining the root causes of any dysfunction.
*Benefits of Testosterone for Women
Unlike the “Viagra pill”, you receive many health benefits from testosterone including the following:
- Cardiovascular Health
- Sex Drive and Libido
- Headaches and Migraines
- Insomnia / Sleep
- Weight Loss
- Fatigue
- Hot Flashes
- Mood and Depression
- Joint Aches and Pains
- Anxiety/Irritability
- Night Sweats
- Menopausal Disorders
Pellet Testosterone Therapy for Women
At Natural Bio Health, we have found that women receive the most consistent benefits from pellet testosterone treatment. See our video testimonials. Key points about pellets are:
- Over 70 years of research has illustrated the benefits of pellet implants in administering hormones in both women and men.*
- Pellet implants deliver consistent, physiologic levels of hormones.
- The consistent and physiologic dosing has been shown to maintain and improve bone density.
- Pellet implants bypass the liver and don’t negatively impact clotting factors, blood pressure, lipid levels, glucose, or liver function.
- Pellet Implants typically last between 3-5 months, depending on how rapidly the hormones are metabolized.
- Pellets are independently tested in eight different metrics including sterility, potency and disintegration.
- Estradiol and testosterone implants have consistently been shown to improve insomnia, sex drive, libido, hot flashes, palpitations, headaches, irritability, depression, aches, pains, and vaginal dryness.
- Studies show a reduction in the incidence of breast cancer with the implantation of testosterone pellets, with or without estradiol pellets.
- End organ response to testosterone remains optimal (i.e., relief of depression, increase in bone density, relief from insomnia, relief from aches and pains, lessened anxiety, improved memory and concentration, increased energy, etc.).
For more information on women’s libido and testosterone, read this book:
Basson R (2008). Women’s sexuality and sexual dysfunction. In RS Gibbs et al., eds., Danforth’s Obstetrics and Gynecology, 10th ed., pp. 742-758. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Dr. NBH, Ph. D. is the Director of Education & Research for Natural Bio Health. He has a Doctorate Degree in Natural Health and has been designated a Diplomate of Anti-Aging Medicine and a Fellow and Advanced Fellow of Anti-Aging, Regeneration & Functional Medicine.
NBH has been awarded a Certificate in Brain Fitness and Weight Management from the Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. He is certified by World Link Medical in Advanced Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy and has completed the expert level education in the Mastering the Protocols of Hormone Replacement Therapy.
He is a fourteen year member of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine.