SAN ANTONIO - This question is for the ladies: How is your sex life these days?
You may be floored to hear just how many women are not having sex because they are just not in the mood. But News 4 WOAI's Delaine Mathieu has some promising news that may help millions of women rev up their sex drive. SA doctors are working on what could be the first prescription drug for women with low libido.
Many women "fake it" -- that's not a secret. But why do they do it? Turns out, they probably weren't in the mood in the first place! More than 40 million American women -- nearly half -- between the ages of 19 and 59 have lost their sexual desire.
Amy McCabe, 32, is one of those women.
"It is a problem, for me," she says. "It's a problem and it's not me anymore."
She's been happily married for eight years, but her sex drive has taken a nose dive.
"I married my husband because he's my best friend, but also because there was an attraction there. And there still is, but there's just not that spark in me anymore."
McCabe has tried everything from different birth control pills, to no birth control, even counseling. But nothing helps.
"It's frustrating!" adds McCabe.
The sad fact is, ladies, there's just not a lot out there for us. There's no FDA-approved drug right now, so the best thing available to us are herbal supplements.
Supplements are only a temporary fix at best. And there aren't a lot of them. We found four supplements for women at one store. Just down the grocery aisle, there are numerous options for men.
But doctors in San Antonio are working on what could be the first FDA-approved pill that would increase a woman's sex drive!
"Most women realize that there is something different that they are not what they were. And they want to be normal again," says Dr. Parke Hedges with Seven Oaks Women's Center on the northwest side.
Dr. Hedges is testing out a new drug that just may help rock our world! It's a national study that is looking at women with one of the most common forms of sexual dysfunction called HSDD: Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder.
"For HSDD, the specifics are they don't have thoughts or fantasy. They feel dead inside," says Dr. Hedges.
Dr. Hedges says no one really knows what causes it. Kids can certainly be a factor. But it may be linked to a chemical imbalance.
"They don't feel like they even care," adds Dr. Hedges. "If their husband wasn't there it would make no difference in their life if they had sex or not."
Women like Amy who do care just want some options. Even though this "mystery drug" may not be anywhere near what men have -- it is a start. And hopefully someday soon millions of women across the country can finally stop faking it and scream out in ecstasy for real.
Now if and when this pill gets approval, Dr. Hedges says it's not going to be like Viagra where you pop the pill and bam -- you're ready go. This pill will need to be taken over time to help increase your sex drive.
If you're interested in participating in the study, click here. You can also call (210) 949-0122.
