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Sexual Dysfunction in Women Not Easily Solved

Aired November 06, 2003 - 15:18   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: No easy fix here. Female sexual dysfunction is a disabling condition that does not lend itself to simple solutions. Some women have found relief with Viagra or a hormonal supplement, but there's no reliable, one-size-fits all treatment, as medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ever since Viagra came out in 1998, women have been asking: What about us? The problem is, a simple pill might not cure sexual dysfunction in women.

Men's sexual problems are more mechanical, and so more easily fixed with a pill. But, for women, it appears to be much more complicated. Sexual dysfunction can be a number of things, lack of sex drive or loss of desire, difficulty being aroused or lack of lubrication, lack of orgasms, pain with intercourse, depression, or problems with the relationship.

Some treatments have worked for some women. Joanne Dorman didn't enjoy sex. But, after taking Viagra, sex got a whole lot better.

JOANNE DORMAN, VIAGRA USER: It's fabulous. It's an enjoyable moment of our life.

COHEN: But studies show, Viagra does not work for most women.

Another treatment that's had some success is the over-the-counter supplement DHEA. In the body, it converts to testosterone, which women need to have a sex drive. This woman said she has no sex drive, but then she took DHEA.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And, suddenly, when I would look at someone that was attractive or something that was sexually stimulating, I started feeling things that I'd never felt before.

COHEN: Before taking DHEA, doctors had told her the problem was in her head. That's the old way the thinking. The new way of thinking is that female sexual dysfunction is a real medical problem that needs medical attention.

(on camera): We've kept in touch with Joanne Dorman. And it turns out that Viagra stopped working for her after just a couple of months. She tried some other approaches, and those didn't work either. So, unfortunately, Joanne Dorman is a living, breathing example that doctors still have a lot to learn about female sexual dysfunction.

Elizabeth Cohen, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired November 6, 2003 - 15:18   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: No easy fix here. Female sexual dysfunction is a disabling condition that does not lend itself to simple solutions. Some women have found relief with Viagra or a hormonal supplement, but there's no reliable, one-size-fits all treatment, as medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ever since Viagra came out in 1998, women have been asking: What about us? The problem is, a simple pill might not cure sexual dysfunction in women.

Men's sexual problems are more mechanical, and so more easily fixed with a pill. But, for women, it appears to be much more complicated. Sexual dysfunction can be a number of things, lack of sex drive or loss of desire, difficulty being aroused or lack of lubrication, lack of orgasms, pain with intercourse, depression, or problems with the relationship.

Some treatments have worked for some women. Joanne Dorman didn't enjoy sex. But, after taking Viagra, sex got a whole lot better.

JOANNE DORMAN, VIAGRA USER: It's fabulous. It's an enjoyable moment of our life.

COHEN: But studies show, Viagra does not work for most women.

Another treatment that's had some success is the over-the-counter supplement DHEA. In the body, it converts to testosterone, which women need to have a sex drive. This woman said she has no sex drive, but then she took DHEA.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And, suddenly, when I would look at someone that was attractive or something that was sexually stimulating, I started feeling things that I'd never felt before.

COHEN: Before taking DHEA, doctors had told her the problem was in her head. That's the old way the thinking. The new way of thinking is that female sexual dysfunction is a real medical problem that needs medical attention.

(on camera): We've kept in touch with Joanne Dorman. And it turns out that Viagra stopped working for her after just a couple of months. She tried some other approaches, and those didn't work either. So, unfortunately, Joanne Dorman is a living, breathing example that doctors still have a lot to learn about female sexual dysfunction.

Elizabeth Cohen, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com