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Kristin, this is a real challenging issue to resolve. I wish I had the one right answer but no one way of handling this exists. It understandably requires an appropriate mind-set for positive sexuality from all involved. I would think that attitude assessment is more than half of the issue. An indepth sexual history (anamnesis) by a sexual counselor or therapist would reveal a lot. An understanding partner (regardless of the woman's sexual orientation) would help in getting reciproxity going if there is a relationship. Many women are single, separated, divorced or widowed and may have no present partner but the assessment process may be worked out to suit the individual situation. Heterosexual women may have to educate their male partners. Older men may have little or no functional knowledge of women's sexuality simply because little or no scientific information and education has existed during their lifetime. Or to resolve related problems (such as issues of neglect, misuse, violence etc.) before enjoyment is there. And in case this needs to be worked out within medical care, a medical practitioner with appropriate qualifications is essential. I am general in my statements because there are many kinds of issues, problems, and approaches to consider. In the case of a woman, the best place to start would be to find a ObGyn specialist (preferably with sexuality credential) who can cover the basic hormonal and relationship issues and refer to someone for history taking. American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT.org) might also be a good resource to start when it is a question of more needed information. Internet is a wonderful resource but one needs to be critical re: medical information there. And if all others fail, a gp should be able to at least assess the levels of essential hormones, testosterone being one of the essentials (for both genders) and help find more assistance. Ansa Ojanlatva, PhD, CHES (ret.) Docent, Health and Sexuality Education Authorized Sexuality Educator and Sexual Health Promotor (NACS), Authorized in Sexual Science (NACS) Sanitas 3rd floor Lemminkäisenkatu 1 20014 University of Turku, Finland mobile +358-400-823 816 tel +358-2-333 8515 fax +358-2-333 8439 Please use the mobile phone number for calling. ----- Original Message ----- From: Kristin Woestehoff <[log in to unmask]> Date: Friday, August 21, 2009 9:00 am Subject: Re: Loss of sex drive in PD To: [log in to unmask] > yes, but is there anything that can be done to improve sex drive > in women w/ PD? testosterone maybe? or is it just life... > > > > > ________________________________ > From: Ansa Ojanlatva <[log in to unmask]> > To: [log in to unmask] > Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2009 2:00:00 AM > Subject: Re: Loss of sex drive in PD > > I am glad this information is sent around but the brief abstract > really is more depressing than beneficial. There is so little good > information on sexual issues that explanations should include more > than the single sentence of outcome. "We" need to understand that in > additon to genders there are at least two different kinds of people to > consider from the start. Most PD patients are older while there is a > small group of individuals receiving the diagnosis when they are > young. Age factors in. > > Also at this point, e.g. the level of testosterone would need to be > known (in both genders) and tested before conclusions are made since > it is one of the factors influencing sexual desire and it is not taken > into account. Women's sexuality is more complex than that of men and > it is rarely taken into account when the findings are discusses. Women > tend to react with their whole bodies more than men. The problem is > complicated by the strange notion that sexual issues may be less > important to women. It may be that the need for orgasm becomes > slightly less urgent with age but it does not disappear. A group of > older women made a suggestion at an American university a year or two > ago that the availability of younger men could be beneficial... They > directly suggested that 40-50-year old men might suit women > 10-20-years their senior. We know that younger people are more equal > minded in general and satisfaction may be easier to obtain. A little reverse > 'psychology' you know. > > The sexual issues caused by medication are a chapter in itself. In my > estimation, well planned medication can bring out the motivation of > 'youth' so to speak. In PD, it may need to be assisted a bit. More > importantly, more physicians are needed who understand the role of > sexuality in people's lives. Generally, when one has been active in > earlier years, it will be true later. Women may be able to recover > easier; men should perhaps seek help earlier when problems occur. > Problems understandably occur when partners are at different need > levels. > > > > Ansa Ojanlatva, PhD, CHES (ret.) > Docent, Health and Sexuality Education > > Authorized Sexuality Educator and Sexual Health Promotor (NACS), > Authorized in Sexual Science (NACS) > > Sanitas 3rd floor > Lemminkäisenkatu 1 > 20014 University of Turku, Finland > > mobile +358-400-823 816 > tel +358-2-333 8515 > fax +358-2-333 8439 > > Please use the mobile phone number for calling. > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: rayilynlee <[log in to unmask]> > Date: Thursday, August 20, 2009 9:04 am > Subject: Loss of sex drive in PD > To: [log in to unmask] > > > > from Viartis > > > > 19th August 2009 - New research > > THE LOSS OF SEX DRIVE IN PARKINSON'S DISEASE > > The journal of sexual medicine [2009] 6 (4) : 1024-1031 (Kummer A, > > Cardoso > > F, Teixeira AL) Complete abstract > > > > Sexual dysfunction is a frequent but neglected problem in > Parkinson's > > > > Disease, as muscular problems are usually seen as the characteristic > > > symptoms. However, nearly two thirds (65.6%) of people with > > Parkinson's > > Disease have been found to suffer a loss of sex drive. Over 42% of > > those men > > with Parkinson's Disease also complained of erectile dysfunction. > > Ageing, > > female gender, lower education, and depression were most associated > > > with > > decreased sexual desire. Decreased interest in sex was not > associated > > with > > antidepressants. The neurological features that were most associated > > > with a > > greater loss of sex drive were predominance of motor symptoms on the > > > left > > side of the body, autonomic dysfunction, and severer Parkinson's > > Disease. In > > order to refer to this article on its own click here. > > > > 16th August 2009 - New report > > A FUTURE REPLACEMENT FOR SINEMET > > According to a new report, Depomed are developing a new drug called > > > DM-1992 > > that could outperform Sinemet in the treatment of Parkinson's > Disease. > > For > > their report click here. The details are on page 20. Just like > > Sinemet, > > DM-1992 is a combination of L-dopa and carbidopa, which prevents the > > > breakdown of L-dopa. DM-1992 also includes AcuForm, which makes use > > > of the > > properties of certain polymers. These polymers have long been used > to > > > > "fluff" ice cream and are safe to use. For more information go to > > Depomed. > > Upon entering the stomach an AcuForm coated pill expands and is > > retained in > > the stomach for up to 8 hours. This helps to deliver a drug like > > Sinemet > > over a longer period of time. Depomed's formulation was able to > extend > > the > > therapeutic duration of L-dopa to nine hours, compared to Sinemet > CR's > > seven > > hours. The time to reach peak blood levels was extended to four > hours > > > > compared to 2 hours for Sinemet CR. These advantages could enable a > > > decrease > > in the dosage of L-dopa, and the ridding of side effects such as > > nausea and > > dyskinesia. In order to refer to this article on its own click here. > > > > Rayilyn Brown > > Director AZNPF > > Arizona Chapter National Parkinson Foundation > > [log in to unmask] > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] > > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn