If you are struggling with low libido, Addyi offers a hormone-free solution to improve your sex drive by targeting the brain’s chemical pathways involved in sexual desire. Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) can affect your intimate relationships, mood, energy levels, and quality of life, issues that Addyi can help address.
Our team at Austin Plastic Surgeon has a proven track record of helping thousands of patients improve their appearance and quality of life with cutting-edge treatments. We strive to help you improve your quality of life with convenient treatments like Addyi.
Contact our office online to learn more about how Addyi can improve your intimate relationships and increase your libido so you can feel more like yourself. Or, give us a call at any of our locations:
Contents
About Addyi
Addyi increases your body’s hormone levels (dopamine and norepinephrine) to increase sexual desire and satisfaction in intimate relationships. (1) Addyi is FDA-approved to help premenopausal patients address Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD)–a condition that is characterized by low interest in sexual activities. (2) Patients with this condition often experience vaginal dryness, low libido, stress, and intimacy issues. Addyi can improve your sex drive to help you feel more confident and excited about intimate relationships.
Benefits of Addyi
Addressing low libido with Addyi has several benefits, including:
- More satisfying intimate relationships: Many patients find that increasing their sexual desire can improve their intimate relationships.
- No downtime: The treatment can improve your quality of life in just a few weeks.
- Improved self-esteem: Many patients feel more confident after addressing changes to their libido and sexual desire.
- FDA-approved treatment: The well-tolerated treatment is FDA-approved for addressing HSDD. You can feel secure in the knowledge that you are receiving a treatment that has met the rigorous standards of the FDA.
Candidates
Suitable candidates are typically experiencing low interest in sexual activities due to HSDD, leading to distress and a change in the quality of their intimate relationships. Candidates should be in good overall health without conditions that would affect the medication’s ability to take effect, such as liver issues.
Candidates must take Addyi consistently for optimal results, and communicate openly about their symptoms and progress throughout their treatment. Candidates should lead a healthy lifestyle and limit alcohol consumption for optimal results. Candidates should also prioritize self-care, eat nutritious meals, and exercise regularly. If you are experiencing menopause, we can discuss alternative treatments to address changes to your libido from chronic hormone imbalances. Women who have gone through menopause are not eligible for the medication.
Consultation
During your consultation, we will discuss your symptoms, medical history, medications, and lifestyle in a private and comfortable setting. If you have a preexisting condition, we may recommend a different treatment. If you recently experienced lifestyle changes such as marriage or childbirth, it is not uncommon to experience changes to your sexual desire from situational factors. (3,4) Before prescribing medications, we will consider all lifestyle factors and your medical history to ensure you receive the most effective treatment plan.
If you have additional concerns that you would like to address, we can also recommend further treatments to help you achieve your aesthetic goals. Do not hesitate to reach out when a simple, well-tolerated, and FDA-cleared pill can potentially improve your libido in just a few weeks.
To learn more about our additional therapies, see the blog!
How to Prepare for Addyi
To prepare for Addyi, you should stop drinking alcohol for 2-3 hours because alcohol can increase the risk of side effects. We typically recommend that you make adjustments to your lifestyle. Leading a healthy lifestyle that includes adequate rest, nutritious meals, and regular exercise can improve your quality of life and help you feel your best. We will also discuss the optimal dose based on your symptoms and medical history.
Results
After taking Addyi, you can enjoy improvements in your sex drive and quality of life. Patients experience improvements in desire, pleasure, confidence, and intimacy after consistently taking the medication. Many patients notice that sexual fantasies return as well.
The length of your treatment will depend on your symptoms. You can choose to stay on the medication long-term to help you maintain your results. We encourage you to discuss how you are feeling with our team after starting the medication. Patients often report changes relating to sexual thoughts and interest after about 4 weeks. After 8 weeks, if you have not experienced any improvements, we will discontinue Addyi and discuss your alternative treatment options. (5)
Labiaplasty
A labiaplasty reshapes the labia and reduces their size for a more youthful-looking appearance. Elongated labia can be bothersome if they cause chafing. Some patients also feel uncomfortable wearing tight-fitting clothing or bathing suits. Enlarged labia can also cause discomfort during intimacy and/or physical exercise. With a labiaplasty, we can improve the appearance of intimate areas to increase your comfort in your daily life. We offer several different types of labiaplasty to enhance your quality of life:
- Trim technique: We can excise the edge of the labia and close the incision with sutures to reduce its size
- Wedge technique: We can remove a triangular-shaped wedge from the thicker part of the labia to preserve its natural contour
- Clitoral hood reduction: We can perform a clitoral hood reduction with labial reduction to remove excess tissue from the hood that is covering the side of the clitoris
During your consultation, we can discuss the most effective treatment plan for your specific underlying anatomy.
Alternative for Patients Experiencing Menopause
Menopause is a condition that occurs when a woman has not had a period for at least one year. Menopause can cause chronic imbalances in women’s levels of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, which can impact sexual desire, skin quality, mood, and mental clarity. Perimenopause is the period before menopause that can cause irregular periods, spotting, and hot flashes. Although this typically begins in the mid to late 40s, some women experience symptoms in their 30s.
Although menopausal women cannot take Addyi, we offer several hormone-balancing treatments to address imbalances caused by menopause and improve your quality of life. However, if you are also experiencing a chronic age-related hormone imbalance, we can discuss menopause treatments to enhance your quality of life.
Bioidentical Hormone Treatment (BHRT)
Bioidentical hormone treatment (BHRT) balances your body’s hormone levels to improve your quality of life and address menopause-related symptoms. Menopause can affect your mood, sleep quality, skin quality, and weight, which can also lead to low self-confidence. BHRT is a plant-based hormone therapy that stabilizes your hormones to rebalance your endocrine system. If you are experiencing menopause, BHRT treatments can help you improve your:
- Intimate health
- Night sweats
- Skin health
- Hot flashes
- Vaginal dryness
- Mood
- Energy levels
- Mental clarity
During your consultation, we will ask about your symptoms to determine whether or not hormone therapy can improve your quality of life. We will also take a blood sample to analyze your hormone levels to create an effective treatment plan.
Cost of Addyi in Austin
We can discuss the cost of Addyi during your personal consultation. If you would like to view the costs of our other treatments, view our pricing page.
Contact our office to learn more about how Addyi can improve your intimate relationships and increase your libido so you can feel more like yourself:
FAQ
Does taking Addyi come with any risks?
Addyi may not be the right fit for you if you have a history of liver conditions. If you experience dizziness, fatigue, and/or nausea after starting the medication, we will likely discontinue it.
Is Addyi effective right away?
No, Addyi is not effective right away. Patients must consistently take the medication for about 4 weeks before they notice substantial changes to their libido. However, patient experiences may vary. If you notice no improvements after 8 weeks, we will discontinue the medication and recommend alternative treatment avenues.
Can I combine Addyi with other treatments?
Yes, depending on your symptoms and aesthetic goals, we can recommend other treatments to help you improve your quality of life. Can I take Addyi if I’ve gone through menopause? No, patients who have experienced menopause are not eligible for Addyi. If you have undergone menopause and would like to address changes to your libido or sexual wellness, we can discuss alternative treatments with you during your personal consultation.
References
- A.B.M. Kamrul-Hasan, Mohammad Abdul Hannan, Muhammad Shah Alam, et al. Role of flibanserin in managing hypoactive sexual desire disorder in women: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine. 2024;103(25):e38592-e38592. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000038592
- Pachano Pesantez GS, Clayton AH. Treatment of Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder Among Women: General Considerations and Pharmacological Options. FOCUS. 2021;19(1):39-45. doi:https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.focus.20200039
- Van Anders SM, Herbenick D, Brotto LA, Harris EA, Chadwick SB. The Heteronormativity Theory of Low Sexual Desire in Women Partnered with Men. Archives of Sexual Behavior. 2021;51(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-021-02100-x
- Tavares IM, Schlagintweit HE, Nobre PJ, Rosen NO. Sexual well-being and perceived stress in couples transitioning to parenthood: A dyadic analysis. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology. 2019;19(3):198-208. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijchp.2019.07.004
- English C, Muhleisen A, Rey JA. Flibanserin (Addyi): The First FDA-Approved Treatment for Female Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder in Premenopausal Women. Pharmacy and Therapeutics. 2017;42(4):237. Accessed October 19, 2024. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5358680/