Top in women’s health: Treating hypoactive sexual desire disorder; addressing PCOS needs

Many midlife women experience hypoactive sexual desire disorder, which can impact both relationships and mental health, but two FDA approved treatments are available, according to a speaker at the Annual Meeting of The Menopause Society.

Approximately one in 10 women have hypoactive sexual desire, according to the American Sexual Health Association. The disorder can be treated with psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy or a combination of treatments. Currently, flibanserin (Addyi, Sprout Pharmaceuticals) and bremelanotide (Vyleesi, Cosette Pharmaceuticals) are approved in the U.S. to treat hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women.

“The problem with hypoactive sexual desire disorder is that women either don’t have enough excitation or they have too much inhibition,” Sheryl A. Kingsberg, PhD, chief of the division of behavioral medicine in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, said during a presentation. “So, we are working to see if we need to add to or help women increase their excitation or if we need to reduce their inhibition.”

It was the top story in women’s health last week.

In another top story, women with polycystic ovary syndrome have concerns beyond reproductive health — including weight gain, hirsutism and long-term comorbidity — and desire patient-centered holistic care to better address PCOS symptoms.

Read these and more top stories in women’s health below:

Balance between excitement, inhibition key to treat hypoactive sexual desire disorder

Many midlife women experience hypoactive sexual desire disorder, impacting both partner relationships and mental health, but FDA-approved treatments are available, according to a speaker at the Annual Meeting of The Menopause Society. Read more.

PCOS beyond fertility: What do patients truly care about?

Historically, much of the medical conversation around polycystic ovary syndrome, which affects 5% to 20% of women worldwide, has centered on fertility, but the condition extends far beyond reproductive health. Read more.

Postpartum visits ‘missed opportunity’ to incorporate HPV vaccination into care

The addition of HPV vaccination into routine postpartum care may increase vaccination rates, which can reduce patient costs, prevent HPV-related cancers and vaccinate vulnerable populations, researchers reported in Obstetrics & Gynecology. Read more.

Primary ovarian insufficiency more than doubles midlife multimorbidity risk

Women with premature ovarian insufficiency and early menopause have increased multimorbidity compared with women with menopause onset at an average age of 46 to 55 years, according to findings published in Fertility and Sterility. Read more.

Prepregnancy bariatric surgery tied to ‘overall downward shift’ in infant growth

Prepregnancy bariatric surgery was linked to lower risks for gestational hypertension, large for gestational age infants and gestational diabetes but increased risks for preterm birth and small for gestational age infants, data show. Read more.