Low sexual desire can be incredibly frustrating for women—and extremely hard to talk about. The good news is that there are effective treatment options, including a new medication called Vyleesi.
As with all content on Greater Boston Urology's blog, the following information is educational in nature, not medical advice. Always talk to your physician about your specific health care questions and conditions.
[Editor's note: This article was reviewed on 11/17/21.]
What is Vyleesi?
The FDA approved Vyleesi in 2019 for the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in premenopausal women. HSDD is the number one type of sexual dysfunction experienced by women. Hallmark symptoms include low sexual desire for six months or more that is causing personal distress.
How does Vyleesi work?
Vyleesi activates receptors in the brain, which then leads to increased sexual desire. Vyleesi is administered via a single-use pen auto-injection (think diabetes insulin pens) placed under the skin in either the abdomen or thigh.
Women should use Vyleesi 45 minutes (or more) before anticipated sexual activity. Typical use is four doses per month. Women should only use one dose in a 24-hour period, and they shouldn't exceed eight doses per month.
What our doctors are saying about Vyleesi.
Dr. Angel Marie Johnson, the director of our Women's Health Center at Greater Boston Urology, says, "Vyleesi offers a simple delivery system, and it's proven very effective. Research has shown that not only are more women interested in intercourse, they're also initiating it."
What about side effects?
The FDA press release states that the most common side effects are nausea and vomiting, flushing, injection site reactions, and headache. Also, women with cardiovascular disease and/or uncontrolled high blood pressure shouldn't take Vyleesi. Learn more about Vyleesi from the FDA press release and from the Vyleesi website.
I'm interested. What should I do next?
If you're a woman suffering from HSDD, talk to your doctor about whether Vyleesi might be right for you. Or if you're in the greater Boston area, consider making an appointment with Dr. Johnson to discuss your options.