An effect on the subjective sexual response in premenopausal women with sexual arousal disorder by bremelanotide (PT-141), a melanocortin receptor agonist

RETRACTED: Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of bremelanotide, a melanocortin receptor agonist, in female subjects with arousal disorder: a double-blind placebo-controlled, fixed dose, randomized study

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor-in-Chief. Following the retraction of Dr. Safarinejad's work by other journals, The Journal of Sexual Medicine has undertaken an extensive re-review of all papers Dr. Safarinejad published with the journal. Following an intensive re-evaluation and close scrutiny of the manuscripts, our expert reviewers raised multiple concerning questions about the methodology, results, and statistical interpretation as presented in this article. Dr. Safarinejad was contacted to provide his original data and offer explanations to address the concerns expressed by the reviewers. Dr Safarinejad chose not to respond. Consequently, we can no longer verify the results or methods as presented and therefore retract the article.

Designing drugs for the treatment of female sexual dysfunction

Dysfunction of female sexual desire, arousal, or orgasm affects approximately 30% of women. Early attempts to treat female sexual dysfunction arose out of programs developed for male erectile dysfunction and have proven largely unsuccessful. A new wave of targets is now being pursued; many of these targets are postulated to modulate central pathways. Classical neurotransmitter systems, such as dopamine and serotonin, as well as the neuropeptide melanocortin, are receiving the most attention. Early clinical data look promising; however, clinical trial methodology in female sexual dysfunction is not well developed and only further testing will determine whether these treatments meet regulatory hurdles and satisfy patient need.

[Sexuality and pharmacotherapy. Medication-induced disorders of sexual response and pharmacotherapeutic options for the treatment of sexual dysfunctions]

This contribution addresses two different areas of the complex relationship between pharmacotherapy and sexual function and dysfunction in men and women. As many impairments of sexual function are caused by side effects of medications, particularly psychotropic drugs, the first part of the paper describes substances and mechanisms often related to sexual dysfunction with a special focus on antidepressants and neuroleptics. While serotonin reuptake inhibitors entail a high risk of sexual dysfunction, it is often difficult to differentiate the negative impact of the drug from the impairment caused by the mental disorder itself. Ways to deal with these dysfunctions and remedial measures are discussed. In the second section, current pharmacological treatments for female and male sexual dysfunctions are reviewed. While there is no approved pharmacotherapy with established efficacy for female sexual dysfunction with the possible exception of the transdermal testosterone patch for surgically menopausal women, effective pharmacological therapies are available for male erectile disorders. In addition, testosterone substitution is the treatment of choice for hypoactive sexual desire disorders caused by hypogonadism. As sexual dysfunctions are often caused by a mixture of psychological and organic factors, treatment strategies combining pharmacological options and sex therapy are advocated.

Potential future options in the pharmacotherapy of female sexual dysfunction

Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is considered a common medical problem estimated to affect millions of women in the westernized countries. FSD has been classified into four different categories including sexual arousal disorder (FSAD), sexual desire disorder (HSDD), orgasmic disorder and sexual pain disorder. The focus of this article is the potential role of pharmacological compounds currently under development, in the treatment of sexual arousal and orgasmic disorders in order to enhance the sexual response in adult females. While a number of potential therapeutic options are available to date, not one of the pharmacological treatment regimens has been yet considered the Gold standard in the management of symptoms of FSD. This article reviews the rationale and potential benefits of using distinct drug formulations in the treatment of FSD.