The Science Behind Female Sexual Arousal Medications

The active ingredients in HerSolution Gel include: L-arginine, a precursor of nitric oxide, may help dilate blood vessels and stimulate blood flow.10 Aloe, shea, and cocoa butter can provide additional vaginal lubrication. Each tube, supposedly, contains a 30-day supply. It’s unclear how much gel is estimated as one use, though. This is in contrast to Wisp and Unbound clearly stating that their products use a pea-sized treatment. Leading Edge Health offers a bulk purchase discount, so the more tubes you buy, the more you save. If you buy a 3-month or 6-month supply, you’ll also receive a free box of HerSolution pills. Here’s how the costs work out: Demonstrated efficacy improving arousal issues in multiple clinical studies Convenient $29 online consultation for a prescription Free monthly delivery if prescription filled through partner pharmacy Financial aid available for those who qualify A long list of side effects, some of which can be serious Not for those who have gone through menopause Can be expensive if you don’t have insurance Takes about a month or so to work Addyi (flibanserin) — also known as “the little pink pill” — is an FDA-approved prescription pill to treat Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD).62 HSDD affects premenopausal women, and it’s believed to be caused by a neurotransmitter imbalance in the brain. However, researchers acknowledge that other reasons, like self-image or happiness in a relationship, can also play a role.18 Additionally, a major part of these symptoms is that they need to be causing you some form of distress. If you don’t care about not having sexual thoughts or desires, then it isn’t HSDD. To receive a prescription, you’ll need to consult with a physician. If you’d rather not wait to see a doctor in person, you can visit the Addyi website and consult with a doctor online using the telehealth service beyondMD for $29.

Still pretending everything's fine?

Insider Tip: You’ll need to buy at least a 2-month supply of HerSolution to be eligible for the money-back guarantee. Unfortunately, the company doesn’t make this well known, but the policy notes that all returns should have “two-opened containers” — meaning you purchased two and tried the product for 60 days. Of course, nothing is stopping you from trying it, stopping it if you don’t like it, and still sending in those empty containers for your money back after the 60 days are up. Mostly-botanical formula should be safe for sensitive skin Can be used as an arousal gel and personal lubricant L-arginine can trigger herpes flare-ups A separate product from the pill for low libido that bears the same name, HerSolution Gel may help with some of the physical issues associated with arousal. This water-based gel can be used to increase vaginal lubrication and promote physical arousal through the inclusion of L-arginine. You’ll fill out a questionnaire about your current health status and lifestyle, and a licensed provider will review it and decide if Addyi sounds like a fit for you. Otherwise, if you prefer to order the prescription through a face-to-face appointment, you can contact Addyi for a list of prescribers.

Basic and Cautionary Facts About Viagra

Niacin: Can improve blood flow via the promotion of nitric oxide production.33 Hops extract: May help relieve hot flashes and increase libido via its potential to bind to estrogen receptors.34 35 Mucuna pruriens: Contains a precursor to dopamine, one of the neurotransmitters heavily involved in sexual arousal.17 36 Tribulus terrestris: “Significantly improved” postmenopausal patients' levels of desire and arousal, along with promoting orgasms and reducing pain from intercourse in one 2016 study. (And the dose in this study was 750mg per day compared to the 150mg in HerSolution. Ginkgo biloba: Can influence nitric oxide production.38 Epimedium sagittatum: Might increase sexual desire in postmenopausal women by promoting estrogen biosynthesis.39 Cayenne pepper: Acts as a vasodilator and can promote the release of nitric oxide.40 Melatonin: May improve sexual function in postmenopausal women.41 You can purchase HerSolution directly from Leading Edge Health, on either the company’s website or the product’s dedicated site (both are legitimate). Buying more than a one-month supply also gets you a free tube of HerSolution Gel, which retails for $59 (we discuss the gel in more detail later on). Here’s how the cost of HerSolution breaks down: Depending on whether you purchase from Leading Edge Health or from the HerSolution website, the shipping costs will differ. If the doctor you see prescribes the medication, you can pick it up at a local pharmacy or have it shipped to your home for free through Addyi’s partner pharmacy, PhilRx. The cost of the medication varies depending on insurance coverage. Some insurance plans offer Addyi for only $20 each month. If you don’t have insurance, the average cost is around $350 for a 30-day supply. In the past, there was a manufacturer savings program that guaranteed qualifying patients would pay “never more than $149” per month, but that appears to have been discontinued. The active ingredient in Addyi is the drug flibanserin, which is FDA-approved to treat HSDD. You take Addyi once daily at bedtime.

1.1 Erectile Dysfunction

We just want to properly inform you of the potential risks associated with the supplement since Leading Edge Health doesn’t try to. Interact with prescription medications (particularly those for mental health, including SSRIs, antipsychotics, carbamazepine, lithium, and valproic acid) Worsen psychiatric disorders and increase the risk of mania in people with mood disorders Increase the risk of hormone-sensitive cancers (prostate, breast, and ovarian) Lead to oily skin, acne, or hirsutism in women (male-pattern hair growth) For more information on the potential drug interactions, you can find extensive lists from the Mayo Clinic and Mount Sinai. In terms of potential benefits of DHEA, the synthetic hormone may improve sex drive in older, postmenopausal women, specifically (not younger, premenopausal women). The results have been mixed, however.12 Looking at the rest of the ingredients, the outlook for trying HerSolution is a bit more positive. While we delve further into the nitty gritty details of these ingredients in our full HerSolution review, the following list breaks down some of the research. This prescription shouldn’t be taken with alcohol (the other FDA-approved prescription mentioned in this guide, Vyleesi, doesn’t have this restriction). Those who have any liver problems should also avoid the medication.

Are There Any Downsides to Combination Therapy?

However, as with all of the supplements mentioned in this guide, the potential effects will take time to appear — anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months. Unlike the other options in our top picks, there’s a strange lack of transparency with some of the ingredients in the HerSolution supplement. On the Leading Edge Health website, the company lists the “HerSolution formula” as: This formula is further described as “a blend of herbals, amino acids, aphrodisiacs, and sexual nutrients.” We’re not entirely sure what a “sexual nutrient” is, but we do know that while the formula is, indeed, herbals and some other botanical ingredients used as aphrodisiacs, there aren’t any amino acids in HerSolution. Niacin (or nicotinic acid) can come from an amino acid, tryptophan, but it isn’t one itself — and that’s the closest thing we could find.31 But that’s not where the transparency issue lies; the main problem we have with HerSolution is Leading Edge Health’s confusing decision not to mention that this supplement contains two synthetic hormones: melatonin (5mg) and DHEA (25mg). The former isn’t the worst addition in the world (it may cause daytime sleepiness and headaches), but the latter can have serious health consequences; DHEA is not studied nearly enough to be worth an inclusion without mention.32 The amount of DHEA in HerSolution falls under the “possibly safe” category if you use the supplement as directed, and the other ingredients are all generally safe (with some decent scientific backing for helping sexual dysfunction), but an ingredient that the Mayo Clinic suggests avoiding seems worth a section on the product page.5 6 To be clear, we’re not saying that you shouldn’t try HerSolution if it sounds like something you’re interested in — it very well may be the most helpful option for you, and you should discuss it with your doctor. You may experience some side effects on Addyi, including: The prescription’s website includes a comprehensive overview of drug interactions, side effects, and potential risks. We recommend bringing up any conditions or medications that might be relevant to your use of Addyi during your doctor consultation. Overall, research points to Addyi being well-tolerated and effective at improving sexual desire in premenopausal individuals with HSDD.55 This medication does take some time to potentially work, however. Like the supplement options, Addyi can take around four weeks to a couple of months before the effects kick in. But, according to the manufacturer, if you haven’t seen any improvement after taking Addyi for eight weeks, then the medication should be discontinued. Clinical trials show a positive impact on HSDD Convenient telehealth consultation and free prescription shipping Financial assistance available for qualifying individuals without insurance There is no restriction on drinking alcohol while using Vyleesi You can get a prescription online through manufacturer’s telemed partner, Prescribery Medication is shipped to you for free from BlinkRx specialty pharmacy Each prescription fill only contains four doses A long list of possible side effects Not for those who have already gone through menopause Not recommended for those with high blood pressure or cardiovascular concerns Can be extremely expensive if you are uninsured and don’t qualify for assistance Vyleesi (bremelanotide) is an FDA-approved injectable prescription medication that can be used as needed to treat Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) in premenopausal women.

16. How is Viagra supplied

You always need to pay for shipping from the former, but the latter only charges shipping if you purchase a 1-month supply; bulk orders ship free. The different prices are noted in the lists below. USPS standard 7-14 day: $5.99 And because it can take a few weeks to see results, Leading Edge Health suggests trying the product for at least 60 days. If you’re not satisfied, you can take advantage of the company’s 67-day money-back guarantee. Promescent and Wisp, in comparison, also have set lengths for their guarantees but they don’t require you to wait any specific amount of time.