The Latest Medical News

A Summary of The Latest Medical News: The **FDA has expanded approval of Addyi (flibanserin)** to include **postmenopausal women under age 65** who are living with low sexual desire, making it the **first and only once-daily oral pill** approved for low libido in this age group.[1][3][5][8] This move builds on Addyi’s original **2015 approval for premenopausal women** with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD), a condition marked by persistently low sexual desire that causes personal distress and is not explained by relationship issues, medical illness, or other drugs.[1][3][8] With the new decision, **millions of postmenopausal women now have an FDA‑approved medical option** for HSDD, a problem that experts say affects a large share of women after menopause and has historically been underdiagnosed and undertreated.[3][4][5][8] Addyi is a **non-hormonal medication** that works in the brain on key neurotransmitters involved in sexual response, rather than by replacing estrogen or testosterone, which may make it an option for women who cannot or prefer not to use hormone therapy.[1][3][5][8] Women who use Addyi take a **100 mg tablet once each night** and are advised to work closely with a healthcare professional to confirm that their symptoms are truly HSDD and to decide whether the benefits outweigh the risks in their individual situation.[1][3][8][9] Clinical trials — described by the manufacturer as among the **largest and most rigorous ever conducted in women’s sexual health** — found that Addyi modestly increased sexual desire and reduced the distress linked to low libido for some women, which supported this new approval.[1][3][8] However, **side effects and safety considerations are important**: Addyi can cause low blood pressure, fainting, dizziness, and sleepiness, and women are instructed to discuss alcohol use, drug use, mental health history, pregnancy plans, and any tendency toward low blood pressure with their clinician before starting the medication.[1][5][8][9] Experts in sexual medicine and menopause have called the decision a **“historic first” for women’s sexual health**, arguing that it recognizes that sexuality does not end with menopause and that older women deserve the same evidence-based options for sexual wellbeing as younger women.[1][3][4][5] For women who are unsure whether Addyi is right for them, specialists emphasize a **holistic approach**: evaluating relationship dynamics, stress, mood, sleep, medications, and hormonal status, and considering alternatives such as counseling, sex therapy, lifestyle changes, and — when appropriate — hormonal treatments alongside or instead of medication like Addyi.[3][5][6][8] Help with your insurance? https://tally.so/r/n012P9