CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – The now-classic pop song lyrics remind us that “What the world needs now, is love, sweet love,” but sometimes she just can’t get in the mood, regardless of how good she remembers it feeling. While some women are willing to accept a flagging libido as a natural part of their aging process, researchers at the University of Virginia think they have the solution for women who’d like to get their sexy love groove back.LibiGel is a testosterone-enhanced ointment currently being tested at the UVa and is expected to begin being prescribed at the university soon to women experiencing what is called “hypoactive sexual desire disorder,” or, more commonly, a low sex drive.
Approximately one-third of American women admit a lack of interest in sex, making it what Dr. Anita Clayton of the UVa Health System calls “the most common sexual problem women have.”
Dispensed in a pump bottle and rubbed not on the genitals but on the upper arm, LibiGel distributes its arousal-improving testosterone into the bloodstream over a 24-hour period of time.
For the purposes of the study, only 25 women aged 30 – 65, who have had both ovaries removed, are taking estrogen supplements, and are dissatisfied with their level of interest in sex, will be allowed to participate in the next stage of the gel’s research within the UVa system. Another 99 medical institutions nationally are participating in drug efficacy and safety tests.
It is not uncommon for women who have undergone ovariectomies, also known as surgical menopause, to experience a drop in their interest in sex since the ovaries supply about half of a woman’s testosterone, which plays a key role in sexual function for both sexes.
Clayton believes that LibiGel is superior to previous clinical test drugs since its testosterone levels remain consistent, better mimicking the body’s natural state. “I expect this will work,” she told the Associated Press, pointing out that women involved in the drug’s previous trial had a 283-percent increase in desire.
If LibiGel is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, BioSante Phamaceuticals, Inc. intends to manufacture the medication. Company chief executive officer Stephen M. Simes feels that the medication will help right a sexual wrong, saying that “It’s not fair that women have no drugs, while men have many” to address sexual dysfunction.
