January 2018
Christina M. Dording, M.D.corresponding author and Lisa Sangermano
Abstract
Sexual dysfunction, which may affect any part of the sexual response cycle (e.g., libido, arousal, and orgasm), is a highly prevalent condition among women and is associated with significant negative consequences for quality of life.
Unfortunately, few effective traditional agents are available to treat this condition, especially in the postmenopausal cohort. It is therefore not surprising that many women seek alternative treatments for relief. The authors review popular alternative treatments for sexual dysfunction, emphasizing randomized, placebo-controlled trials when possible.
Conclusion
Despite the high prevalence of female sexual dysfunction, there are no FDA-approved agents to treat this condition among postmenopausal woman, and there is only limited choice for others. It is not difficult to understand why many women turn to natural or complementary remedies to relieve their symptoms.
Natural remedies may be especially attractive to a population whose sexual dysfunction is a side effect of a required pharmaceutical agent (e.g., antidepressant treatments).
The increasing popularity of these agents seems to have outpaced valid scientific evidence for their effectiveness. There are few well-designed, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of natural remedies for sexual dysfunction among women. Placebo response rates of 25% to 50% have been reported in clinical trials with sexual-enhancing agents that were ultimately determined to be effective. With the high placebo response rate in treatment of sexual dysfunction, the need for randomized, placebo-controlled studies is of paramount importance.
Given the paucity of data on both efficacy and safety, it is often difficult to weigh risks and benefits of using these agents for this condition. To truly weigh the risks and benefits of natural and complementary agents, we need more well-designed, placebo-controlled trials.
