Nutritional supplements can be a great aid for increasing sexual satisfaction. All women can benefit from supplementation, but there is a subgroup that can especially benefit. Approximately 10% of the population has a genetic defect called MTHFR. If you have a double recessive abnormality on the C677T allele, you will be deficit in nitric oxide. Dr. McKenzie, the physician at New Beginning Women’s Clinic (associated with New Beginning Men’s Clinic) is a board certified gynecologist and one of the few physicians trained in MTHFR defects. Based on your lab results, she can help you to formulate a diet and supplement regime that is specific to your needs. This plan is designed to increase nitric oxide in your body.
How arginine boosts sex and libido
Arginine plays a number of important roles in the body, including stimulating glands such as the pituitary and thymus. These glandular secretions may affect sperm formation, muscle-building, and immune function. Arginine may also promote heart health by helping to improve blood cholesterol profiles, relieve heart-related chest pains (angina), and control blood pressure.
Arginine has also been shown to act as a precursor in the body for nitric oxide. A gas molecule, nitric oxide has a number of potential effects on body cells, including the ability to relax arteries and small blood vessels. This can benefit sexual response by maintaining blood flow to the penis or clitoris, for example. Although researchers are still exploring its actions, there is some indication that nitric oxide may also function as a sex-enhancing neurotransmitter.
An inability to achieve arousal, difficulty having an orgasm, and other sex-related problems are widespread among Americans. The pharmaceutical industry has offered more help to men (Viagra) than women, but a recent study suggests that women experience an even higher rate of sexual dissatisfaction. The amino acid arginine may be a viable alternative to Viagra that is less expensive, causes fewer side effects, and is equally effective for men and women. Like Viagra, arginine increases blood flow to the genital area, potentially increasing sensation to the sex organs and enhancing the pleasures of lovemaking.
In 1998 the Nobel Prize was awarded for the discovery that blood flow is regulated by a simple chemical called nitric oxide. Blood flow into the penis is what creates an erection. Blood flow into women’s genitals increases sensation and orgasmic intensity. It works like this: The amino acid L-Arginine is used by the body to make nitric oxide. Nitric oxide turns on an important enzyme that creates Cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate (c-GMP.) This relaxes smooth muscle, the kind in your blood vessels, and allows for blood flow.
SUMMARIES OF CLINICAL TRIALS
One study on L-Arginine was conducted on post-menopausal women with Female Sexual Arousal Disorder or FSAD. The study was designed to determine the effects on vaginal blood flow and sexual arousal of the Nitric Oxide-precursor L-Arginine (as well as other substances) on physiological responses to erotic stimuli in post-menopausal women who had experienced FSAD for at least six months.
The study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, three-way crossover clinical trial. Patients were 23 post-menopausal women who met DSM IV criteria for FSAD. The physiological sexual arousal of the subjects was measured by changes in vaginal pulse amplitude using a method called Vaginal Photoplethysmography.
The subjects were shown a neutral (non-sexual movie) as well as a film with sexual content. The degree of each subject’s sexual reaction to the neutral as well as to the sexual movie was measured by the Vaginal Photoplethysmography technology. Subjective sexual arousal was also gauged by using a Self-Report Questionnaire that was standardized for all woman involved in the trial.
The results of the Vaginal Photoplethysmography showed a rapid and significant increase in Vaginal Pulse Amplitude Response (meaning the subject’s degree of sexual stimulation) to the erotic film after the L-Arginine was administered as compared to the placebo group. The Self-Report Questionnaire yielded similar results. The study theorized that the mechanism responsible for the increase in sexual arousal was the body’s enhanced production of Nitric Oxide due to the administration of L-Arginine.
The increased Nitric Oxide release caused the women who were given L-Arginine to be significantly more stimulated by the erotic content of the sexual film as opposed to those subjects who received the placebo.
References: Lebret, T., Herve, J.M, Barre, P., Lugagne, P.M & Botto, H. (2000). A controlled human trial. ESIR. Meston, C.M, Gorzalka, B.B, & Wright, J.M. (1997). Psychosomatic Medicine 59:399-407. Padma Nathan, H. (2000). ESIR. Simonsen, U. Prieto, D., Hernadez, M., Saenz de Tejada, I., & Garcia-Sacristan, A. (1997). 157: 2356-2360.
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The results of another clinical study of L-Arginine were presented at the Ninth Annual Congress on Women’s Health & Gender-Based Medicine in Washington, D.C. The study indicated significant improvement in women’s sexual desire and overall satisfaction. In this double-blind placebo-controlled study, 93 women, ages 22-73, enrolled as participants lacking sexual desire.
Of the 93 women involved, 46 received L-Arginine and 47 received a placebo. The participants used a Female Sexual Function Index Questionnaire to rate their level of sexual health before starting the study and after taking either a placebo or the L-Arginine.
At the end of four weeks, 62 percent of the active group reported significantly improved satisfaction with their overall sex life and 64 percent reported an improvement in their level of sexual desire.
REFERENCES: Mary Lake Polan, MD, PhD, MPH, Professor and Chair, Department Of Gynecology/Obstetrics, Stanford University School of Medicine. Study results published in the May/June issue of the peer-reviewed, “Journal of Women’s Health and Gender-Based Medicine”.
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Numerous studies over the past decade have explored the role of nitric oxide in sexual response. Nitric oxide has been shown to increase erections, for example, in primates, dogs, cats, rats, rabbits, and other animals. Animal studies have also determined that long-term oral administration of arginine has potentially beneficial effects on erectile response. As one study concluded, “These data support the possible use of dietary supplements for treatment of erectile dysfunction.” A few animal studies have also shown beneficial effects for both nitric oxide and arginine on female sexual response.
A more limited number of studies have looked directly at the effects of arginine on human sexual response. For example, a small 1994 study in which men took 2.8 grams of arginine every day for two weeks showed a significant improvement in erectile function. Another study found that almost three-quarters of 178 men with low sperm counts had significantly higher counts after taking 4 grams of arginine daily for at least three months. Most recently, a study published in 1999 followed 50 men with erectile dysfunction for six weeks. Among those who took a high (5 grams) daily dose of arginine, 31 percent reported significant subjective improvements in sexual function, compared to only 12 percent of those taking a placebo. Human studies on arginine for women seem to be lacking at this point.
Sex problems on the rise
More than four out of ten American women aged 18 to 59 have some form of sexual dysfunction, as do approximately three out of ten men, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association last year based on a national survey of more than 3,000 men and women. Among men and women over the age of sixty the problem may be even more widespread. Exactly why impotence, male erectile problems, an inability to orgasm, and other sex-related problems are so prevalent today is the subject of debate. A commonly cited factor is the sex-deadening side effects of Prozac-like antidepressants, as well some 200 other prescription drugs.
One of the most popular new drugs in recent years, Viagra targets sexual dysfunction, though the FDA currently approves its use only for men. (Physicians are free to prescribe it “off-label” for women.) Although Viagra does reduce erectile problems, its adverse side effects include migraines, blurred vision, sinus congestion, and even a potentially fatal sudden drop in blood pressure. Viagra’s usefulness for women is under study, with only a few (mostly conflicting) trials being done so far.
Arginine
Arginine is often referred to as L-arginine, which is the natural L (or levo-rotatory) form. One of the best ways to maintain “NO” levels is to make sure enough arginine is consumed Arginine is a component of many foods such as milk, meat, chicken and fish and has many other health-supporting benefits. It is essential in processes involving neurotransmitters, which carry messages between brain cells. It is a free radical scavenger and supports immune function, the maintenance of normal viscosity of the blood, the relaxation of blood vessels, and blood flow to the male and female sex organs. NO is a gas molecule that acts as a chemical messenger for numerous functions in the body. It signals the release of important hormones and acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain. It is used by the immune system to kill marauding bacteria and cancer cells. Adequate levels of NO normalize blood pressure, prevent heart disease, and maintain good circulation. NO is even involved in the formation of erections. It protects the endothelial cells lining the arteries from the initial adherence of plaque. It is an important antioxidant, guarding LDL cholesterol from free radical damage that transforms it from a benign blood fat to an aggressive artery blocker. It also prevents platets in the blood from sticking together, deceasing the formation of clots that might imitate a heart attack. In addition, NO relaxes the arteries and prevent arterial spasms. Arginine has been shown to actually restore normal function in arteries damaged by LDL cholesterol. Arginine signals the smooth muscle cells of the arteries to relax, thus increasing their diameter, by allowing blood to flow more freely, with less pressure against arterial walls, NO is a primary regulator of blood pressure.
Arginine goes beyond Viagra’s capability because it improves cardiovascular function, thereby enabling restoration of arterial health, upon which an important mechanism for sex is based. In addition, arginine acts as a growth hormone releaser. It enhances muscle mass and tone, as well as memory and immune function. Unlike the drug Viagra, arginine is a natural nutrient that is safe and essential, without side effects. Women suffer from the same type of insufficient genital blood flow that causes impotence in men.
Women report easier & more intense Orgasms
Since Viagra first became available, many women have reported that it works as well for them as for their male partners. Anecdotally as well, many women have said the same about arginine. Reports claim greater lubrication, more sensitivity, and increased ease, frequency, and intensity of orgasm.
L-Arginine – the key ingredient that your body needs to restore, stimulate, and help maximize your sexual response and overall sex drive. The presence of L-Arginine in the clitoris and surrounding tissue is vital to the proper functioning and maximum arousal of the clitoris.
As a woman is sexually stimulated, the brain signals the Pudendal Nerve and the Clitoral Nerve (the nerves responsible for vaginal sexual sensations). Once activated, these nerves convert available L-Arginine into nitric oxide and nitric oxide draws blood into the area causing the clitoris to become full, aroused and highly sensitive, enhancing the sexual experience.
Nitric Oxide Replacement in Women
So how does arginine work in women? NO (Nitric Oxide) has been found to be produced in clitoral tissue. This means that the same kind of hampered blood flow that causes erectile difficulties in men may be the cause of many cases of impaired female sexual response. Moreover, levels of nitric oxide have been found to decline rapidly in women as they age. Thus, women may need to boost NO levels, which they can do by supplementing with arginine naturally.
Good circulation is important for optimum health. The blood vessels must stay open to permit efficient blood flow. Constriction of blood vessels, which can be brought about by such factors as stress and stimulants such as caffeine, certain drugs, and nicotine, can work against healthy circulation. Plaque can reduce flexibility of arterial walls and the opening size where blood flows. “Nitric Oxide” sounds like a toxic chemical, but it is a natural substance that is a combination of Nitrogen and Oxygen.
The body makes “NO” from arginine, a natural amino acid, a component of most proteins we eat. It is also referred to as “ADNO,” an abbreviation for “Arginine Derived Nitric Oxide.” ADNO is used by the body to support the normal vasodilation-the process, which keeps the arteries open.Arginine is totally natural, not a hormone, and supports normal body processes. Over 10,000 scientific papers, which document the benefits of “NO” have been published in numerous scientific journals around the world. They include prestigious publications such as the Journal of the American Medical Association, Lancet, The New England Journal of Medicine,
British Medical Journal, Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology, Journal of the American College of Cardiology and numerous others. The most prestigious scientific award of all-THE NOBEL PRIZE FOR MEDICINE-was awarded to three American Researchers for pioneering work with “NO” in 1998.
To achieve reliable sexual function, you must have good circulation. The blood flow into the penis fills the vessels and expands the tissues under pressure to create a firm erection. The female clitoris functions the same way. Difficulty in achieving an erection for the 80% of men who have the problem can be linked to physical or nervous conditions, drugs, or reduced blood flow to the area.
Improved blood flow means better Orgasms
Sexual responsiveness requires adequate blood flow to the vagina and especially the clitoris. It follows that when women are unable to achieve orgasm or have delayed orgasms or suffer from vaginal dryness, these problems are likely to be due to insufficient or poor blood flow to the genital area. A variety of factors can cause poor circulation, such as heart disease, diabetes, or too much cholesterol. Smoking, a bad diet, lack of exercise, and a wide variety of drugs can also cause circulatory problems.
Unfortunately, there are far fewer answers to questions about sexual dysfunction in women than in men, because they are not as frequently the subjects of studies. Although there may be as many as 60 million American men with erectile problems ranging from occasional to complete dysfunction, comparable figures have not been compiled for women.
Arginine for greater sexual desire
But unlike Viagra, arginine is reported to increase sexual desire (libido). This is probably because NO, also made from arginine in the brain, operates as a neurotransmitter involved in the creation of long-term memory. Indeed, studies have shown that memory and libido are connected. In women, they decline with age, but when sex hormones such as testosterone are replaced, both memory and libido increase. At least one study has reported that testosterone maintains the erectile response by alternate pathways, including one that is independent of NO. Alternatively, when NO is abundant, it may be that more testosterone is available for increasing libido. Other research indicates that NO enhances the ability to remember sex scents (pheromones), which are intimately related to libido.
