The Effect of Individualised Homeopathic Treatment on Low Sexual Desire in Perimenopause

Low sexual desire, or decreased libido, is one of the most prevalent sexual complaints in females. Menopause is defined as the physiologic cessation of menses brought on by a decrease in ovarian function and is established once menses have been absent for at least twelve months. Perimenopause refers to the period shortly before as well as the twelve months after the last menstrual period. The duration of perimenopause varies greatly and signs and symptoms usually begin appearing during a woman's forties. A longitudinal study conducted in Seattle showed that women experienced a significant reduction in sexual desire during the late perimenopausal and early postmenopausal stages, with the biggest decline in sexual desire occurring from three years prior to two years after the final menstrual period. Despite being a prevalent female complaint, currently no standard treatment for low sexual desire exists. Homeopathy may offer a safe and effective solution for this common problem, however limited research has been conducted to date. The aim of this study is to explore the effect of individualised homeopathic treatment on low sexual desire in perimenopausal females using detailed case studies, the desire and arousal subscales of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) as well as Item 13 of the Female Sexual Distress Scale - Revised (FSDS-R).