Getting Women in the Mood for Sex

By Sondra Forsyth

Even before ancient Egyptians, the search was on for aphrodisiacs that stimulated sexual desire and pleasure.

Today, although we better understand the science behind desire, there is still much to be learned. A recent meeting of the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) provided a historical world-wide tour of the search for aphrodisiacs, ending with current evidence-based pharmacologic treatments for low sex drive (hypoactive sexual desire disorder).

Much has been learned in recent years about how and why women get in the mood for sex. Yet, there still remains only one FDA-approved pharmacologic option for women diagnosed with hypoactive sexual desire disorder and in need of treatment to enhance their overall quality of life.

Dr. Sheryl Kingsberg from University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and President of NAMS moderated and spoke in the session titled “Sexual Desire: Wired for Wild?” at the NAMS Annual Meeting. Dr. James Pfaus from Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, will also spoke in the session on

Experts shared the latest research about the neurochemistry of sexual desire and highlighted the role of the central nervous system and the neurotransmitter dopamine in stimulating pleasure. There was discussion on how music, particularly rock and roll, plays a role in wiring humans for desire and how research and scientific advances have moved in parallel with societal changes, as has the evolution of rock and roll.

The NAMS executive director shared:  “Healthcare providers need a better understanding of the latest research in women’s sexual health in order to help the number of women affected by hypoactive sexual desire disorder.”