“For the past few years, I have struggled with low sex drive. At first I thought it was because I had just become a mom and felt tired most of the day of the week. However, this continued for quite a long time and began to significantly affect my daily life and well-being.

Eva, 43, soon saw her sex life disappear. It’s not her children’s fault and it’s not her fault, she just imagined hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD).

So did Peter, who had longstanding problems with sexual activity. In fact, his inability to be sexually attracted to female partners had a devastating effect on his relationships.

He himself recalls that most of the time he justified a non-existent sexual appetite, saying that it was due to stress, work or fatigue. However, when he decided to try the drugs available on the market, nothing changed.

Peter and Eve thought they would never feel romantic attraction to anyone again in their lives. And it scared them. So they decided to ask for help and took part in study by clinicians and scientists at Imperial College London and the Imperial College of Health NHS Trustfor which they were given kisspeptin hormone.

A major health problem worldwide

“For some people, low sex drive is not a problem. However, in this study, we specifically studied people in whom low sex drive was painfully affecting their daily lives and sought medical help, ”says the doctor. Alex Komnenos, Research Coordinator and Honorary Clinical Lecturer in Endocrinology and Diabetes at Imperial College London.

The HSDD disorder affects up to 10% of women and men on the planet.

“Those who took part in the investigation reported a lot. problems in their daily life this affected both their own happiness and their relationship. After all, hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) is a major health problem worldwide and is believed to affect up to 10% of women and men on the planet. There are many more people suffering than we think, but many of them are too shy to speak openly.“, Mr. Komnenos explains to us.

Two studies conducted by Imperial College London provided kisspeptin or placebo in women and men with low sex drive who were otherwise healthy. The researchers did not tell the participants whether they were given kisspeptin or a placebo so that their response would not be affected.

The members then watched erotic videos while kissing magnetic resonanceto see if kisspeptin can change it brain activity in areas of the brain associated with sexuality.

“Our results show that kisspeptin can enhance sexual activity of the brain and the behavior of both women and men with low sex drive. In addition, in men, we observed a significant proerectile effect of kisspeptin,” Mr. Komnenos comments on “K”.

“I participated in the study twice in 2020, once on placebo and the other on kisspeptin. I noticed a slight difference as soon as I got kisspeptin and I am very glad that I took part in the study, ”says Eva, noting that, among other things, she wanted to meet other women who could not admit that they experience this disorder and are looking for help.

“I’m glad that kisspeptin can be one of the therapeutic option and for other women,” the 43-year-old woman emphasized.

Kisspeptin and other treatments

The new findings are significant given that most of the treatments available to women have significant side effects. side effects.

“Some treatments cause significant side effects in women, such as nausea, dizziness, interaction with alcohol. All of these side effects are not ideal during intercourse,” emphasizes the doctor. Komnenos then explained the difference between kisspeptin and viagra.

“For men, Viagra is primarily a mechanical remedy that acts on blood flow to the genital area, and not to the brain.

Against, kisspeptin affects the brain to improve sexual desire and arousal and thus to produce an erectile effect.”

Future Research

Dr. Komnenos points out that the research department still has a lot of work to dohowever, believes that if subsequent larger studies confirm the current findings, then kisspeptin-based treatment of people with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) may be effective. will appear in 5-10 years.

“The results so far are encouraging. We are also considering the possibility of prescribing kisspeptin. as a simple injection and as a nasal spray to make life easier for patients. We still want to explore other beneficial effects of kisspeptin on the whole body, for example, on the bones, ”concludes the doctor. Komnenos.

*Participant names were falsified by study leaders.