Research conducted at Q.P. Liao and co-authors has provided new information about female sexual arousal disorder.(Report)

In this recent report, researchers in Beijing, People's Republic of China conducted a study "To date, no approved medication is available for the treatment of female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of a novel alprostadil topical cream for the treatment of FSAD."

"This was a multicenter, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, parallel design dose-ranging study. Four hundred female patients with FSAD (22-62 years of age), after a 4-week nontreatment baseline period, were provided with 10 blinded doses of 500, 700, or 900 mcg alprostadil or a placebo cream to be applied to the clitoris and the G-spot in the vagina prior to vaginal intercourse. The primary efficacy end point was the arousal success rate (equal number of the Yes responses to Question 3 of the Female Sexual Encounter Profile [FSEP] or number of the sexual encounters). Secondary endpoints included the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Global Assessment Questionnaire, other FSEP question responses, and post-treatment changes in Female Sexual Distress Scale. A total of 374 FSAD patients completed the study. Primary efficacy analysis of the intent-to-treat (ITT) population showed a significant increase in arousal success rates with dose. Arousal success rates at the end of the total evaluation period were 33.1%, 46.3% (P = 0.0161), 43.5% (P = 0.0400), and 53.9% (P = 0.0002) in the placebo, 500, 700, and 900 mcg alprostadil groups, respectively. The ...