Acupuncture in Premenopausal Women With Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder: A Prospective Cohort Pilot Study

Introduction: Female sexual dysfunction affects up to 43% of women in the United States and hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) is the most common type; however, we lack treatment options showing improvement for this condition. Aims: To investigate whether acupuncture therapy could improve HSDD. Methods: Premenopausal women with a primary diagnosis of HSDD were included in a single-arm prospective pilot study that was approved by the institutional review board. After providing informed consent, subjects completed validated questionnaires. Participants underwent 25-minute twice-weekly acupuncture sessions for 5 weeks with one certified acupuncturist. Questionnaires were completed again 6 weeks after onset of treatment. Main Outcome Measures: Based on a statistically significant change in the desire domain of the Female Sexual Function Index from 2.0 (at baseline) to 2.4 (after intervention with a specialist) in our population of patients diagnosed with HSDD, a sample of 13 was determined, with 90% power and α 0.05. Results: Fifteen women were enrolled and 13 completed the study. Mean age was 36.9 ± 11.4 years. Most were white (n = 9, 60%), heterosexual (n = 15, 100%), and non-smokers (n = 14, 93%). Most were sexually active more than four times per month (n = 8, 53%) and none had a history of sexual abuse (n = 15, 100%). Participants received a mean acupuncture needle application of 17 ± 2 at each session. Sexual function improved after intervention, particularly desire (2.1 ± 0.6 to 3.3 ± 1.2, P < .0001), arousal (P < .0001), lubrication (P = .03), and orgasm (P = .005). Conclusion: In this cohort of premenopausal women with HSDD, 5 weeks of acupuncture therapy was associated with significant improvements in sexual function, particularly desire. This supports a role for acupuncture as a therapeutic option for women with low desire

Supplementary Material for: Attitudes and Compliance with Research Requirements in Ob/Gyn Residencies: A National Survey

<b><i>Background/Aims:</i></b> The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) requires that all Ob/Gyn residents accomplish scholarly activity. We hypothesize resident productivity is poor. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> This was a web-based two-survey study using SurveyMonkey®. Surveys queried both program directors and residents regarding their adherence to ACGME guidelines. All 233 accredited Ob/Gyn programs were targeted. <b><i>Results:</i></b> 70 program directors responded (30.4%). The majority (99%) felt research was a goal of their program and stated their residents are taught to read current literature (99%), design basic studies (99%), and interpret simple statistics (89%). 17% (53/313) of the residents did not agree that their training environment promoted research, 25% did not feel comfortable discussing basic study designs, and 54% did not feel comfortable interpreting basic statistics. Urban programs demonstrated improved resident attitudes toward research (p = 0.025), better research environments (p = 0.007) and curricula (p = 0.001) compared to rural programs. Furthermore, residents intending to pursue an academic career were more likely to be working with a research mentor (p = 0.038). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> The ACGME clearly delineates residency research requirements. A dichotomy exists between program director perception and resident compliance. Notwithstanding, it is reassuring that the majority of programs appear to promote scholarly activity and provide necessary support