Everyone Loves Celebrities
Aug 22, 2008 9:50 am US/Eastern
Miami Company Develops Sex Patch For Women
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
Sex is something we all think about. And it's a big part of most adults' lives. But for women who struggle with hypoactive sexual desire disorder, sex can be a frustrating, even painful, issue.
"It has an impact on the patient's morale, a sense of well being, her relationship with her husband or significant other, and her physical health," says Dr. Amanda Richards Bullock, a University of Miami Professor and gynecologist.
The disorder leads to women's loss of sexual desire. In some cases it's because they have low levels of hormones like testosterone.
But soon women who are searching for a way to get back that lovin' feelin' may find it in the form of a patch.
Noven Pharmaceuticals of Miami has created a testosterone patch designed to increase women's sexual appetite.
Dr. Bullock says, "The patch is a very nice way to supply testosterone."
She believes once the patch is on the market, it could help many of her patients, but what may be even more significant is the fact that the new focus of research is on women and sex.
"There's not been a lot awareness amongst the medical group that this was really a problem, it was often thought to be just purely psychological or imagined," she says.
Dr. Richards is so concerned about this issue, she's working to open a clinic specializing in certain kinds of sexual dysfunction in women at the University of Miami.
Though she's thankful new options like the patch are surfacing for women who need the extra boost, she cautions that the patch will not be right for everyone because hormones are not always to blame for sexual dysfunction.
Your best bet it to talk to your doctor.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald contributed material for this report)
