A double-blind randomized placebo control study comparing the objective and subjective changes in female sexual response using sublingual apomorphine.
INTRODUCTION: Female sexual dysfunction and its therapeutic approach is a growing area. AIM: We aimed to assess the subjective and objective changes of the female sexual response, in patients with orgasmic sexual dysfunction using 3 mg SL Apomorphine (APO). METHODS: Twenty-four patients (mean age 32 years old, SD: 9.69) were included in a prospective randomized cross-over protocol. Sexual response was evaluated objectively (duplex ultrasound) and subjectively (self-reported questionnaire) following vibrator stimuli with the addition of 3 mg SL APO or placebo. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Sexual response objective (PSV, EDV, RI) and subjective (arousal and lubrication degree and orgasm achievement). Adverse events were also recorded. RESULTS: Clitoral hemodynamical changes, particularly peak systolic velocity (PSV), were significantly higher with APO (P = 0.003), mean increase of PSV poststimulus was 72.50% with placebo (from 9.7 cm/second to 17.0 cm/second) and 139.14% with APO (from 9.7 cm/second to 21.4 cm/second). SUBJECTIVE CHANGES (AROUSAL AND LUBRICATION) WERE ALSO SIGNIFICATIVE WITH APO (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: According to our observations, APO seemed to produce more subjective and objective changes in the sexual arousal phase of women with orgasmic sexual dysfunction than placebo. Future research is needed to evaluate the place of this drug in the treatment of the female sexual dysfunction.