Hypoactive sexual desire disorder or HSDD is defined as the lack of desire for sexual activity. For someone to be considered to be suffering from HSDD, there must be a long-term lack of interest in sex.
HSDD has, by far, been the most common female sexual desire disorder, although disease prevalence in men is also substantial. Hypoactive sexual desire disorder can create marked difficulties in life, causing stress and interpersonal strain among both the patients and people intimately related to them.
In this scenario, there have been a number of recent hypoactive sexuality disorder medical breakthroughs, with the most celebrated being the use of Viagra for treating male hypoactive sexual desire disorder. Given the vast market, drug manufacturers are keenly supporting research to improve understanding of HSDD and finding the next wonder drug.
Causes: Hypoactive sexuality disorder research identifies various causes of hypoactive sexual desire disorder. These include health and medical issues, psychiatric problems, low levels of testosterone, hormonal imbalances, or elevated prolactine levels. The debilitating effects of HSDD in women are quite exhaustive, and HSDD often results in emotional hurt such as feelings of dejection, resentment, infidelity, and hostility. HSDD may become a major issue between partners if sexual desire disorder lasts for a long period of time.
Hypoactive sexuality disorder research is also focusing on the underlying causes of HSDD such as chemical imbalances caused by hormonal changes or medication and exhausting lifestyle as the possible culprits that suppress sexual desire.
Treatment: Hypoactive sexuality disorder treatment can be multipronged and includes biological, physical, and psychological aspects and is still at a fairly nascent stage.
A possible female Viagra contender: Intrinsa® from Proctor and Gamble has been a prescribed drug in Europe. Intrinsa works by a controlled release of the testosterone hormone, which has been identified to decline with age in women, especially near menopausal and after a hysterectomy. This drug has been found to be effective in HSDD treatment and its development is a major medical breakthrough. While Intrinsa is currently going through the approval process by the FDA, it is still not approved for use in the U.S.
Supplements: Certain herbal products, which claim to be free of major side effects and act as libido enhancers, and some naturopathy medicines can be classified as hypoactive sexuality disorder medical breakthroughs. The latter include formulations available as supplements such as Provestra® and HerSolution® tablets and Vigorelle® cream.
© Newsmax. All rights reserved.