Not many people, including physicians, have heard of hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD), but the clinical diagnosis exists with very specific signs and symptoms. The diagnosis is mainly based on low sex drive in a woman. However, this also relates to many other symptoms a woman is experiencing.

Studies show that HSDD causes a “large and statistically significant decline in health status, particularly in mental health, social functioning, vitality and emotional role fulfillment.”1

This points out the importance of replacing a woman’s hormones with those that are identical to those produced by the human body and bringing to them the levels she had when she was younger.

Another study showed that women with HSDD were “twice as likely to report fatigue, depression, memory problems, back pain and lower quality of life (QOL).”2

Many times, when a woman presents with these symptoms, she is placed on antidepressants when her real deficiency is hormonal. This is distressing because the category of antidepressants commonly used is SSRIs.

These medications are known to considerably decrease sexual desire. It could be said that sexual desire is the one thing that helps us feel young, vital and emotionally healthy.

“Sexual satisfaction in women is associated with general well-being.”3 Could hormone replacement therapy be an answer for many women who are taking multiple medications trying to relieve their anxiety, stress and depression?

The list of side effects of these medications is long and well-known. But the temptation to use these remedies is too difficult to resist with the promise of calm and bliss.

The tradeoff, however, is weight gain, loss of sex drive and inability to achieve orgasm. Men, too, may have erectile dysfunction due to low testosterone levels.

There is an answer to this disabling medical condition. It is replacing lost hormones with hormones natural to our own body, but the government says “there is currently no FDA approved pharmacologic treatment for HSDD. Many clinicians, however, prescribe testosterone … Although sexual problems are common to women of all ages, they are under-diagnosed and under-treated.”4

This short article is to give notice that there is a treatment for HSDD, and it is not a drug. It is a natural hormone called testosterone. Many women may need natural estradiol and progesterone, as well.

The best option is pellet hormone replacement therapy, as this provides testosterone to women at optimum levels 24 hours a day, seven days a week to maintain energy, vitality, strength, mental clarity, sex drive and overall wellness.

If you have symptoms of tiredness, fatigue, mental fogginess, low sex drive, osteoporosis, weight gain, depression, hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, lack of muscle tone and mood swings, you need to be evaluated by a physician who specializes in natural hormone replacement.

Call HRC Medical SA at for a free consultation, and get your sex drive back.

Dr. D. E. Hale is the medical director for HRC Medical.

For more information on hormone therapy, call HRC Medical at 210-679-2500, or visit the website at www.hrcmedical.com.

Sources:

1 Leiblum, SR, Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder I Postmenopausal Women: U.S. results from the Women’s International Study of Health and Sexuality “Menopause,” 2006; 13 (1): 46-56

2 Biddle, AK, Hypoactive Sexual Disorder in Postmenopausal Women: Quality of Life and Health Burden. “Value Health”: 2009 Jan 12.

3 Rosen, RC, Sexual Well-Being, Happiness, and Satisfaction, in Women: The Case for a New Conceptual Paradigm. “J. Sexual Marital Therapy”: 2008; 34(4) 291-297

4 Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder: Understanding the Impact on Midlife Women, Sheryl A. Kingsberg, Ph.D. “Menopause Matters”