Leonard DeRogatis - Persistent Sexual Arousal Syndrome (PSAS) is a rare condition affecting women that has only made its way into the medical literature in recent years. Women with PSAS experience genital arousal and lubrication without direct stimulation or even a desire to become sexually aroused. These episodes of arousal may last for hours and are uncomfortable and quite distressing. ... Read more...

Leonard DeRogatis, Ph.D. - Erectile dysfunction (ED), or the inability to get an erection, is a complex condition with many possible causes. The cardiovascular system, specifically the thin layer of cells lining the blood vessels called the endothelium, is believed to play a major role in some cases of ED. As I have written on this blog before, the presence of ED can often be one of the earliest signs of problems in endothelial function that may later progress to heart disease. ... Read more...

Leonard DeRogatis, Ph.D. - It's hard enough to talk about sexual matters to anyone, much less your physician. So it would seem important for your doctor to have the tools to help you communicate and understand a sexual problem when it arises, and to lay out your options for treatment. The problem is that many if not most general practice physicians do not feel comfortable treating and prescribing treatments for erectile dysfunction (ED) in their male patients. ... Read more...

Leonard DeRogatis, Ph.D. - To many women, menopause may seem like a time when almost nothing goes right. A woman may experience hot flushes, sleeplessness, mood swings, vaginal dryness, and loss of sexual desire, among other physical and mental disturbances. During this time, her children are most likely reaching adulthood and moving away, leaving behind the dreaded "empty nest. ... Read more...

Leonard DeRogatis, Ph.D. - The American Psychiatric Association defines exhibitionism as "recurrent intense sexually-arousing fantasies, sexual urges or behaviors involving the exposure of one's genitals to unsuspecting strangers." In some cases, the motivation is to arouse shock, surprise, or even elicit sexual feelings in the observer(s). ... Read more...

Leonard DeRogatis, Ph.D. - Doctors who treat soldiers who have experienced defeat in combat are aware of a condition termed "defeated army" syndrome. The syndrome is characterized by a significant lowering of serum testosterone levels. Now research suggests that much less dramatic lifestyle changes can have a significant effect on male testosterone levels as well. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology followed 1,600 men in the Boston area for more than 17 years. ... Read more...

Leonard DeRogatis, Ph.D. - There are at least a half-dozen FDA-approved medications on the market to treat sexual dysfunction in men. Viagra was introduced more than a decade ago, followed by Levitra and Cialis. All of these drugs gotten very positive evaluations and work equally well. Additionally, if a man suffers from sexual desire problems, he can choose from various prescription formulations of testosterone, including Androgel and Testim. ... Read more...

Leonard DeRogatis, Ph.D. - For most parents, their child's identification with their gender is not a matter of concern. Even though we've seen a gradual loosening of stereotypical gender behaviors over the past few decades, most little boys still play with trucks and little girls with dolls. For a very small number of children, however, their gender identity is not as clear-cut; they identify more with the opposite sex than with their own. ... Read more...

Leonard DeRogatis, Ph.D. - Basically unheard of 10 years ago, the metabolic syndrome is now very much on the minds of physicians and patients. Now there's news that men with erectile dysfunction (ED) may be at higher risk for developing this complex of conditions that affects an estimated 47 million Americans. Left untreated, metabolic syndrome can lead to insulin resistance, a precursor of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. ... Read more...

Leonard DeRogatis, Ph.D. - The American Medical Association (AMA) has now entered the debate over the value and safety of so-called "bioidentical" hormones. In particular, the AMA focused on the plant-derived compounded hormone preparations touted by actress-turned-health advocate Suzanne Somers in her book Ageless: The Naked Truth About Bioidentical Hormones. ... Read more...