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Female Sexual Dysfunction and the Placebo Effect: A Meta-analysis
James M Weinberger1, Justin Houman, Ashley T Caron
1David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and the Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California.
Obstetrics and Gynecology
|July 12, 2018
Summary
The placebo effect accounts for 67.7% of treatment success in female sexual dysfunction (FSD). Current FSD treatments offer minimal improvement over placebo, highlighting the need for more effective therapies.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a prevalent condition impacting women's quality of life.
- Pharmacologic interventions are commonly prescribed, but their efficacy relative to placebo is not well-quantified.
- Understanding the placebo effect is crucial for evaluating treatment effectiveness in FSD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the placebo effect in various pharmacologic treatments for female sexual dysfunction.
- To compare the treatment effect of pharmacologic modalities against their respective placebo effects.
- To assess the overall efficacy of current FSD treatments in relation to placebo response.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following MOOSE guidelines.
- Databases searched included PubMed, EMBASE, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Cochrane Review.
- Included studies were randomized controlled trials with a placebo arm using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI).
Main Results:
- Eight randomized controlled trials involving 1,723 women receiving placebo and 2,236 women receiving treatment were analyzed.
- Women receiving placebo showed an average improvement of 3.62 points on the FSFI.
- The treatment arms demonstrated a mean improvement of 5.35 points on the FSFI.
Conclusions:
- Placebo response accounts for a significant 67.7% of the observed treatment effect in female sexual dysfunction.
- Current pharmacologic treatments for FSD offer only a marginal benefit above placebo.
- There is a critical need for the development of more efficacious treatments for female sexual dysfunction.
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