Female sexual dysfunction (ISD) state, which varies from lack of libido and inability to achieve orgasm and affect 40-45% of women, especially with age.
JSD difficult to diagnose and to treat. Specialists usually prescribe sildenafil (Viagra), hormones and Vlaanderen, however, these methods do not always work and can have unwanted side effects.
Researchers from the University of Michigan (University of Michigan) were interested in the fact that the treatment of bladder dysfunction by neuromodulation sometimes led to improved sexual function.
In this particular treatment the patient receives therapy with nerve stimulation once a week to improve neural signalling and functioning of the muscles that control the bladder, says Tim Bruns (Bruns, Tim), associate Professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Michigan. The nerves that control the organs of the pelvis, begin at the same place in the spinal cord and branch out.
The assumption of scientists is that the nerves that descend to the foot overlap around the spinal cord some nerves in the pelvis, which leads to a possible overlap of the synaptic pathways. However, studies of this technique in women with no problems with the bladder was not.
Previously, scientists conducted an experiment on rats. They found that in 15-30 minutes after stimulation of nerves in the genital area, and ankles in rodents strongly increased vaginal blood flow.
Then Tim Bruns, together with the obstetrician-gynecologist, doctor of philosophy Mitchell Berger (Berger, Mitchell) and a surgeon-urologist with Priyanka a Gupta (Priyanka Gupta) made an experimental study by inviting nine women with GSD, but no problems with the bladder. A study published in the journal Neuromodulation.
Every woman has passed the 12 half-hour sessions of percutaneous electrical stimulation of nerves, where the electrodes were located either in the genital area or on the ankle. The results are promising, eight of the nine women reported some improvements concerning arousal, lubrication and orgasm.
This study represents an alternative method of treating female sexual dysfunction, which is non-pharmacological and noninvasive. Through such studies we can better understand women’s sexual arousal and to offer treatment disorder that has very few possible methods [of treatment], says Priyanka Gupta.
The overall improvement was comparable or higher than in previous studies, different types of medications or neuromodulation at GSD. However, to exclude the placebo effect, in the future, it is necessary to use blind and placebo-control.
Backed conclusions, the scientists plan to conduct more extensive research.
Valeria SEMA