Some women with sexual arousal disorder reported improved sexual function after receiving topical sildenafil cream compared with placebo cream, according to results of a phase 2b study published in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Overall, topical sildenafil cream 3.6% (Daré Biosciences) did not show statistically significant improvement over placebo for women with concomitant sexual dysfunction diagnoses. However, when analyzing a subset of women with female sexual arousal disorder only or female sexual arousal disorder with decreased desire, researchers observed trends or significant improvements in sexual functioning with sildenafil cream compared with placebo cream.
"We also found significant reductions in several measures of sexual distress and interpersonal difficulties among this subset population," Andrea Ries Thurman, MD, FACOG, an OB/GYN and medical director of Daré Bioscience, and colleagues wrote.
It was the top story in women's health last week.
Another top story featured perspectives from experts across the country on the U.S. Supreme Court's 6-3 decision to dismiss an appeal on Idaho's abortion ban, allowing for abortions in emergency situations under the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act.
Read these and more top stories in women's health below:
Topical sildenafil cream improved outcomes for some women with sexual arousal disorder
Select healthy premenopausal women with sexual arousal disorder who received topical sildenafil cream reported improvements across multiple aspects of sexual function compared with those who received placebo cream, according to a phase 2b study published in Obstetrics & Gynecology. Read more.
US Supreme Court dismisses appeal over Idaho's abortion ban, allowing emergency care
On June 27, the U.S. Supreme Court formally dismissed an appeal over Idaho's current strict abortion ban, allowing for abortions to be performed in the state in emergency situations. Read more.
Fewer filled oral contraceptive prescriptions in states restricting abortion
The U.S. Supreme Court's Dobbs decision was associated with declines in prescriptions for oral contraceptive pills, especially for emergency contraception, in states with the most restrictive abortion laws, according to cohort study results published in JAMA Network Open. Read more.
Generative AI: What it is, how it can be utilized in OB/GYN
AI has evolved rapidly in the past few years, and with this comes generative AI, which creates content based on short prompts and plentiful data that might be useful in health care while also posing some trade-offs. Nichole Young-Lin, MD, MBA, FACOG, Women's Health Clinical Lead at Google and adjunct clinical assistant professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, spoke about generative AI during a presentation at the ACOG Annual Clinical & Scientific Meeting to explain the benefits and concerns this technology brings to health care. Read more.
Mental, physical health, domestic violence, substance use tied to maternal suicide rate
Perinatal vs. non-perinatal suicide was more likely to be associated with depression, substance use, physical health issues and recent bereavement, highlighting the need for targeted interventions and policies, researchers reported in an analysis published in JAMA Open Network. Read more.