Female sexual health... One of the symptoms of decreased sexual arousal in women, is a reduced amount of vaginal lubrication. If a decrease in vaginal lubrication has been caused by menopause, hormone replacement therapy can help. This is the only approved drug therapy for this disorder. Viagra (sildenafil) and a class of medications called alpha-adrenergic blockers, such as Regitine (phentolamine), can also increase the vaginal lubrication response to sexual stimulation. Female sexual health... Adam Levine, MD, formerly an instructor in reproductive endocrinology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and now a gynecologist in Tampa, FL, said that to date he has prescribed male hormones to about 100 women, with largely positive results. Most of his patients have experienced a rise in libido on testosterone, with some also reporting "an increased sense of well-being." For several years, Levine prescribed Estratest, which "worked fairly well" for libido, but caused side effects in a number of patients. So recently, he began offering "a newer alternative," DHEA. An androgenic hormone that is produced in the adrenal glands of both sexes (and starts to decline before age 30), DHEA is closely related to testosterone. Female sexual health. During a clitoral orgasm, the vagina becomes longer; it causes a pocket to be formed beneath the uterus. During a vaginal orgasm, the uterus drops lower and shortens the vagina. Stimulation of both the vagina and clitoris can cause a blended orgasm, the third type of orgasm. All these orgasms may feel different from each other. Female sexual health. estraVil™ contains: Maca - legendary South American herb with centuries-old reputation for increasing libido. Red raspberry leaf - female tonic, uterine contraction regulator, pregnancy herb. Red clover - blood cleanser and nutritive, positive effects on hormonal systems regulating pregnancy and lactation. Cayenne pepper - stimulant that equalizes circulation and strengthens the heart. Female sexual health. Certainly, sexual problems exist. If people believe they have a problem, then clearly something is worrying them. However, if they are comparing themselves with an unattainable ideal, their individual level of sexual functioning is not validated, and what is normal for them becomes defined as sexual dysfunction. The real problem confronting us is how to decide if someone's concern is a matter of definition and misinformation or if the behavior is truly outside the normal range.

Female sexual health... There is a consensus, however, on just how intricate female desire is. "Women's drive is so complex that biology is only one factor that drives sex drive," says Jean Koehler, PhD, a licensed family and marriage therapist in Louisville, Ky., and past president of the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists. Besides biology, the following factors can affect female libido: Quality of the relationship Attitudes of upbringing Support of peer group Quality of touch and sex Understanding of partners Age Illness Use of medications Emotional well-being Trouble with one or a combination of these factors can affect women's sex drive. Such loss of interest in sex is medically identified as hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). Female sexual health... How can I regain that aspect of my sexuality? I don't want to watch or read porn. There are many ways to stimulate your fantasy life. You may find it easiest to start with movies and scenes in movies that you enjoy. Female sexual health. Because it is weaker than the testosterone used in Estratest, said Levine, DHEA produces fewer side effects but appears to be equally effective in restoring libido. "The problem is that there are very few sources that provide pharmaceutical-grade DHEA," said Levine. "I know of only one local pharmacy that provides it." Otherwise, the substance is available through vitamin and health-food stores, where it is difficult to account for the quality. While Levine advocates the use of androgens to treat flagging female sex drive, he acknowledges that "there is not a lot of solid research in this area." He still recommends that women who undergo libidinal changes with menopause try estrogen therapy first. Female sexual health. Testosterone cream must be used every day on a regular schedule to slowly raise and maintain testosterone levels in a normal range. This low dose testosterone level typically is inexpensive and causes no side effects if used in correct dosages. Occasional testing of testosterone level (through saliva) should be done to maintain testosterone in a normal range. If progesterone imbalance is the culprit, then a compounded prescription of progesterone in a capsule or cream can be given. Female sexual health. I don't believe in quick fixes, but that's what most patients expect. It takes a lot of commitment to develop intimacy, to listen to one's partner, and love and nurture ourselves and our relationships." "I personally don't recommend manual aids," says Richard Wheeler. "What I have found is that women respond well to words and men like pictures, so I suggest that women clients read books that will empower them and encourage them to be creative about their sexuality. I've had incredible feedback from women who discover that it's okay to give themselves permission to enjoy their bodies, to explore and understand their sexuality." Dr Sue Badshaw is the Medical Training Co-ordernator for New Zealand Family Planning Association, Southern Region, and a counselor at the Youth Health Center, Christchurch.

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