A North Carolina woman says her sex life has been transformed by a little-known drug called “female Viagra.”
Debra Dillo, 58, suffered from hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD or low libido) for 10 years, which put a strain on her intimate relationship with her husband Todd.
After years of hormone replacement therapy to correct her low estrogen levels, in the hopes that it would also improve her libido, she was prescribed Addyi. It’s a once-daily pill that balances the brain chemicals responsible for sapping libido both before and after menopause.
The drug was approved in 2015, but few women have heard of it.
“I call it my happy pill,” she said. She added that she’s been much more “in the mood” since she started taking the medication: “I wake up feeling good. I walk around during the day and I’m in the mood. And I usually don’t say no when he makes the move.”
Debra Dillo (left) and her husband Todd (right) have revitalized their sex life with the help of a drug commonly known as “female Viagra.”
Ms. Dillo started taking Addyi four months ago and immediately noticed an improvement in her mood and desire for intimacy. She calls it her “happy pill.”
Business owner Ms. Dillo feels more like she was at 30 than she did at 58. Ten years ago, her estrogen levels began to drop, so she started hormone replacement therapy, thinking an improved sex life would be a nice side effect.
But she did not regain the libido she had enjoyed in her younger years. A chance mention of the drug by a friend who owns the pharmaceutical company that develops Addyi sparked Ms. Dillo’s interest.
Addyi is approved to treat hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSSD), which is defined as a lack of interest in sex that can occur in both men and women.
The exact mechanism by which the drug works is not entirely clear, but it reduces the activity of serotonin, the neurotransmitter that regulates mood and has also been shown to decrease sexual desire.
While reducing serotonin levels, Addyi increases dopamine and norepinephrine levels, which help regulate mood, enhance arousal, and increase sexual interest.
And by improving mood, which has a strong influence on sexual desire, the drug can create a better mindset for sexual activity.
Women taking the drug have also reported being able to have very intense and satisfying orgasms.
She said People‘As the body ages, it starts to not cooperate as well when it comes to sex. Things don’t work as well as they used to. It’s harder to climax. It’s a little bit more work… And I loved my husband, I loved my life, and I loved my sex life. But aging had taken a toll on me mentally.’
Within two weeks of taking Addyi, Ms. Dillo’s sleep quality changed completely. She slept through the night and woke up happy and eager to start the day, which her husband Todd said gave her more opportunities for “couple stuff.”
Mrs Dillo added: ‘These days I’m in such a good mood that I look at my husband, I mean I’m so attracted to him, so of course the wheels start turning again and then my body just cooperates much better.
‘Nowadays, intimacy is much more frequent: a couple of years ago it was once every two weeks, but now it can be up to three times a week. And I do it with much more enthusiasm.’
Mr Dillo said moments of intimacy throughout the day, such as furtive glances or flirtatious comments, are much more frequent now.
The non-hormonal pill balances the brain chemicals dopamine and norepinephrine, which can lead to lower sex drive and decreased serotonin levels, which is known to affect a person’s libido.
They talk about sex more often and more openly. Debra is less distracted and more engaged. Todd added that they incorporate small intimate moments throughout their days, such as little glances or comments.
Mr Dillo, 53, said: ‘For example, we’ll come home from work and I’m in the shower and she’ll come in and make some comments, which I never did before. She’ll take the initiative too.
“The difference I’ve noticed is not just physical, but mental as well. The positive change in Deb’s mental health has had a huge impact. I’m very grateful for that.”
Mrs. Dillo and her husband of 27 years have a full life with their four children. Mr. Dillo, a stay-at-home father, volunteers at the children’s schools and coaches their traveling sports.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Dillo keeps busy running her construction and plumbing business.
She said: ‘It was crazy, but fun.
“We’ve had a wonderful marriage. We’ve been through some tough times because marriage is hard and it takes a lot of work, but we were both committed to having this beautiful family and this wonderful life, and we both worked hard to achieve that.”
Mr Dillo added that his wife’s “happy pill” has been “a great addition to our relationship”.
