Sometimes when women say, ‘not tonight, I have a headache’, they really mean it; 90% of women who are treated for headache and migraine report problems with sexual function. This dysfunction is commonly reported as pain when having sex and a lack of sexual desire, which is also known as hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD), one aspect of the umbrella term for sexual problems and women, female sexual dysfunction (FSD). These kinds of headaches include migraines and chronic headaches, which are characterised as more than 15 headaches in the month.
Last week it was found that 91% of women being treated for headache or migraine and who were participating in an Italian survey, were also experience less than normal levels of sexual function, with 20% diagnosed with HSDD. 17% felt they had a low sex drive but they were unconcerned about it.
Previous research shows that all types of chronic pain will have an effect on sex drive and the ability to become aroused. The researchers behind the survey also say that often headaches accompany other disorders such as depression and these disorders could be the direct link to sexual dysfunction rather than the headaches themselves.
There are still few treatments available for FSD and since libigel’s late stage trials did not go so well, we are excited about such treatments in trial stage at the moment. Trimel Pharmaceuticals Corp. is happy with the results of mid-stage trials in which they met all of their primary goals with their drug, Tefina, a gel containing testosterone that is administered through a nasal device.
The drug is specifically for women who suffer from anorgasmia, which describes the condition where women cannot reach orgasm, and according to the pharmaceutical company, affects one in five women before and after menopause, all over the world.
At the moment, only Intrinsa is licensed for women with HSDD but it is appropriate for very few women who suffer from low libido because they must be menopausal or post-menopausal and also be on oestrogen replacement therapy.