Reason: You're Distracted During Sex
It's not just those endless to-do lists that make your mind wander.
You're wired that way. According to brain scan research, women's brains
are naturally more active than men's, even during sex. The reason:
lower levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine. "Dopamine creates the
desire to go after a reward--in this case, an orgasm," explains
Clayton. Dopamine also increases the flow of sensory impulses to the
genitals, essential for arousal. But low levels of dopamine caused by
chronic stress or medical conditions can distract you during sex.
Why Your Desire Is Lagging
Libido Enhancing Drugs
How Science Can Help
A supplement that contains the hormone DHEA
This hormone (dehydroepiandrosterone) may increase dopamine production
and normally spikes right before orgasm to enhance desire and focus.
Taking 300 mg of DHEA an hour before sex significantly increased both
mental and physical arousal in postmenopausal women, according to a
study published in the Journal of Women's Health & Gender-Based
Medicine. Clayton only recommends 25 to 50 mg and warns that DHEA can
affect some people's cholesterol levels, however. So be sure to check
with your doctor before taking it.
A simple test for ADD
Up to 2 million adult women in the United States suffer from attention
deficit disorder, which may be associated with low dopamine levels,
says Daniel G. Amen, MD, a psychiatrist, brain imaging specialist, and
author of Sex on the Brain. This can literally make it difficult to pay
attention during lovemaking. However, "when a woman is finally treated
for ADD, usually with a combination of drug therapy and behavior
modification, it improves her sex life--not to mention the rest of her
life as well," he says. To get a test for ADD, go to
prevention.com/links.
Reason: You Have Trouble Reaching Orgasm
Women
typically blame this on psychological problems, but the reasons are
often physical. Poor blood flow to the genitals, for example, caused by
cardiovascular conditions like diabetes or heart disease, makes it
harder to have an orgasm. Another common culprit: declining hormone
levels due to perimenopause and menopause. Smoking can also disrupt
blood flow by constricting blood vessels.
How Science Can Help
The amino acid L-arginine
Like Viagra, this
naturally occurring amino acid increases the production of nitric
oxide, a chemical released by the genital nerves during arousal,
sending much-needed blood to the area. Amen suggests taking 1,000 to
3,000 mg of L-arginine supplement (available at drugstores) right
before sex.
A new antidepressant
The inability to experience
orgasm is a common side effect of antidepressants called selective
serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). That's because the serotonin
boost you get from these drugs decreases dopamine, which leads to
sexual problems. Clayton often switches her patients to bupropion HCI,
an antidepressant that doesn't affect serotonin levels, enhances
dopamine function, and, in several studies of women, has boosted
desire.
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