Study summary · research use only
Bremelanotide for Treatment of Female Hypoactive Sexual Desire
Plain-language summary
Paraphrased from the published abstract below — not a verdict on whether anything works.
This review discusses hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in women and its proposed pathophysiology involving inhibitory and excitatory hormones, neurotransmitters, and specific brain anatomy. It describes bremelanotide, a melanocortin receptor agonist, as FDA-approved for treatment of HSDD, administered intranasally or as a subcutaneous injection, with a labeled dosage of 1.75 mg injected subcutaneously in the abdomen or thigh at least 45 min before sexual activity. The abstract reports that studies showed improvements in desire, arousal, and orgasm scores when 1.75 mg of bremelanotide was administered before sexual activity compared to placebo. Species: human (women).
Abstract
Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) is a persistent deficiency or absence of sexual fantasies and desire resulting in significant distress or interpersonal difficulty. Women with this disorder may display a lack of motivation for sexual activity, reduced responsiveness to erotic cues, a loss of interest during sexual activity, and avoidance of situations that could lead to sexual activity. The pathophysiology of HSDD is thought to be centered around inhibitory and excitatory hormones, neurotransmitters, and specific brain anatomy. Due to the multifactorial nature of HSDD, treatment can be complex and must attempt to target the biological and psychosocial aspects of the disorder. Bremelanotide is a melanocortin receptor agonist and has been recently approved by the FDA to treat HSDD. Bremelanotide is administered intranasally or as a subcutaneous injection. The recommended dosage of bremelanotide is 1.75 mg injected subcutaneously in the abdomen or thigh at least 45 min before sexual activity. Studies showed improvements in desire, arousal, and orgasm scores when 1.75 mg of bremelanotide was administered before sexual activity compared to a placebo. Bremelanotide is a promising way to treat HSDD.
pepmg summarizes the peer-reviewed literature and links to every source — it sells nothing, ships nothing, and gives no medical, dosing, or human-use guidance. Don't just trust this summary: follow the citation to its source and read it yourself. Research use only.