If your wife has lost interest in sex you are not alone. The Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) reports 43% of American women suffer from some form of female sexual dysfunction (FSD), which refers to diminished sex drive. However, this number could be much higher as JAMA only considers a woman to suffer from FSD if she is distressed by it. Not all women are distressed by a loss of sex drive.

Consider these recent survey results:

70% of women indicated they have experienced a sexual health issue, most issues were related to a loss of interest in sex, according to a recent survey commissioned by the National Women’s Health Resource Center and the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals. In an online survey 70% of married men indicated their wives admitted to them they had lost interest in sex. 77% of the men indicated the wife’s sex drive had “Greatly Declined” since living together.

FSD Summary

In 2002 on her television show, Oprah Winfrey called FSD a “silent epidemic affecting millions of American women.” What no one is talking about is the millions of American men who are also affected. FSD is a significant problem for women but can be an even bigger problem for men. When a wife loses interest in sex it is likely the husband who suffers the most from a lack of satisfying sex, intimacy and a healthy relationship.

What is FSD? In the 2/10/99 JAMA medical publication FSD was defined with the following 4 categories of sexual dysfunction in women:

1) Hypo-active sexual desire disorder – Complete loss of interest in sex
2) Arousal disorders – difficulty in becoming aroused
3) Orgasmic disorders – difficulty in having an orgasm
4) Pain disorders – pain during sexual contact

FSD research is a relatively new field of study although there have been some causes and cures identified. Below are a few common FSD causes identified in pre menopausal women, excluding major female surgeries:

- Childbirth, giving birth to at least 2 kids can reduce testosterone and estrogen levels in a woman’s body, which reduces their sex drive.
- Birth control pills are known to inhibit a woman’s libido
- Anti-depressants, most will negatively affect a woman’s desire for sex.

Any one of these 3 events can negatively affect your wife’s libido. If your wife has given birth to at least 2 kids, is on birth control and anti depressants odds are her sex drive is greatly diminished or non existent. What you should know is there are specific reasons why women lose interest in sex and now researchers are finding solutions to improve a woman’s sex drive.

FSD Drugs

Are there FDA approved drugs to treat FSD? No. The focus in recent years on sex drugs has been for Erectile Dysfunction (ED) and as a result we have FDA approved drugs including Viagra, Cialis and Levitra. While there are currently no FDA approved drugs for FSD but that could change in the next 12-24 months with the progression of Flibanserin and LibiGel.

Flibanserin is a daily oral treatment manufactured by the German pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim. Flibanserin was initially developed as an anti-depressant but was found to have a side effect of improving the sex drive in some women. There is no date set for Flibanserin’s release although there are expectations it could hit the market in 2010.

LibiGel is a testosterone gel manufactured by BioSante Pharmaceuticals. The gel is applied daily to a woman’s upper arm. “Off label” non FDA approved testosterone therapies are reported to be the most commonly used physician assisted treatments for FSD. The BioSante website estimates 2011 for FDA approval and LibiGel launch. What Can You do to Help Your Wife and Yourself? Here are 3 things every husband can start doing today to help his wife with FSD:

1) Educate yourself about FSD. There are many good websites with FSD information, just search “female sexual dysfunction” in any major search engine.
2) Talk to your wife about FSD to help educate her. If women don’t know FSD is a curable problem they are less likely to seek out solutions for improvement. Start your discussion with the Oprah quote from above to get her attention so she understands she is not alone.
3) Talk to a sex therapist or qualified doctor about the problem. Most general practitioners are not adequately trained to help with FSD, so you need to find a qualified doctor or sex therapist.

Why is FSD information important to men? If men aren’t aware that FSD exists as the problem behind their wife’s lost sex drive how can they help with the solution? Women typically are unaware of FSD and only a small percentage will seek out medical help for their sexual problems so the husbands must get involved. Afterall, married men may have the most to gain from helping their wives overcome FSD.

By: P. David Ridge