Comments and Personal Stories

Living with Female Sexual Dysfunction

Based upon numerous magazine articles and surveys, record numbers of women across the country are having more frequent and satisfying sexual encounters than ever before. I am not, on the other hand, among these women. So what is wrong with me? Admitting that you have no desire for sex is not an easy thing to do, even in the enlightened and open age in which we live.

I first became aware of Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD) several years ago. It was a disorder of which I was completely unaware. My girlfriends, mother, or aunts never spoke of it. In my world, it just did not exist. I learned, however, through first-hand experience that FSD was very, very real.

The decline in my sexual libido began in 1996. I had a hysterectomy and oophorectomy – surgeries performed far too frequently on thousands of women in the United States on a yearly basis – that robbed me of my sexual desire. The healing process from the surgery is lengthy. I knew there would be a period while my body was healing where there would be no sex. It was only natural. My body would have to heal. I had no idea, however, that my sexual desire would be greatly diminished and never return to what it once was.

After my surgery, many months passed before it dawned on me that it had been some time since my husband and I were sexually intimate. This troubled me, so I approached my husband and voiced my concern. We discussed our intimacy drought – we were both very busy with full-time, demanding jobs; we were parents of a child who was very active and involved in a number of extracurricular activities that left little or no time to us. When we weren’t busy with our jobs and childrearing, we were simply mentally and physically exhausted. We came up with very logical and reasonable explanations for lack of intimacy.

My husband assured me that he loved me and everything was all right. But it wasn’t. I knew that there was something wrong. I did not have the yearnings or feel the desire that I used to. The thought of sex was the farthest thing from my mind. On those occasions when my husband and I had sex, it was not very satisfying. It was difficult for me to reach an orgasm, and this became a source of frustration. I missed those toe-curling orgasms.

I knew I had to do something to help stimulate my libido. I began to explore different remedies that were advertised as aphrodisiacs and helped women to have more deep and satisfying orgasms. I tried supplements with natural substances such as wild yam root, which contains estrogen precursors and is recommended by herbalists for women’s reproductive health. I purchased topical solutions and drank various herbal teas that were said to be sex enhancers and increased sexual responsiveness. For the most part these remedies did very little to improve my libido.

I continued my quest for something that would give me back my sexual desire. I read many articles that suggested testosterone was responsible for a woman’s libido. It was also pointed out that research has shown women who had their ovaries removed had very low levels of testosterone in their bodies. Low testosterone equals low libido. A light went off in my head!

I finally decided to seek medical help and made an appointment with my gynecologist to discuss my problem with him. Although I had been going to this doctor for many years, he performed my hysterectomy and oophorectomy, and it was not easy for me to broach this subject with him. Our relationship was pleasant enough, but it was not one such that I felt entirely comfortable discussing an intimate matter. However, I summoned my nerve and was very candid with him. The end result of my visit was a prescription for an estrogen and testosterone therapy.

I was excited about starting this new therapy and had high hopes that my sex drive would return. After several months of taking this hormone therapy, I did not see any noticeable change. Another hope dashed.

I continued with my search for other options. One day while riding in my car, I heard an advertisement on the radio that piqued my interest. It was appealing to women with low libido to participate in a research study. Hearing the ad brought me to the realization that I was not the only woman having a problem with sexual desire. Needless to say, I called the toll-free number to obtain more information. I wanted to be a volunteer for the clinical trial. Responding to this ad was the beginning of my involvement with research for FSD.

A telephone screening was done to determine if I was a suitable study participant, which I was. An appointment was set for me to visit the local center conducting the research study. The research center was seeking participants for a study to test a drug therapy on low libido in surgically menopausal women.

I took a series of psychological tests and underwent extensive medical tests to qualify me further for the study. An in-depth discussion was held with the clinical director. My questions were answered, concerns addressed, and my fears about risks eased. I was very excited about my involvement in this research and the hoped for results of this new therapy to replace the testosterone my body was no longer producing.

My participation in this study opened my eyes in more ways than one. I was aware of research for cancer, heart disease, and other things. However, I had no idea that there were research clinics devoted specifically to women’s health issues. After all the preliminary paperwork and tests were done, there was a period of several weeks before any medication was dispensed. During this time, I completed weekly questionnaires designed to gauge my physical and mental well-being.

Once I began use of the Intrinsa testosterone transdermal patch, follow-up visits to the center were scheduled at regular intervals throughout the course of the study. Taking vital signs, blood tests, and completing questionnaires were a routine part of each visit.

My experience in the study was an excellent one. I did not grow a mustache or beard or develop large muscles. My voice did not deepen nor did I grow large amounts of hair on my chest. I felt absolutely great! I had an overall sense of well being. More importantly, there was a noticeable increase in my libido. There was hope.

I had first hand experience with the positive effects of the testosterone transdermal patch, and I want to experience those feelings again. Clinical studies have shown this drug therapy is effective in raising the levels of testosterone in a woman’s body with little or no side affects. I was very disappointed the patch did not receive FDA approval. It is my hope the FDA will ultimately approve Intrinsa after the additional studies they have requested are completed.

It is frequently stated that women are much more complicated than men. In a lot of cases, our libido is directly linked to our emotions and mental state of mind. But this is not always the case. Physical factors like a hysterectomy can affect libido.

I know that a healthy and satisfying sex life is important to my physical and mental well being. There are countless numbers of women like me who are seeking a solution to our sexual dysfunction. Until the medical profession takes note and devotes as much time and money as they have done with male sexual dysfunction to aggressively seek a solution to FSD, I and others like me will continue to suffer in silence and be deprived of a vitally important part of our lives.

Roslyn G. Washington
Silver Spring, Maryland