Addyi, originally approved for premenopausal women, is now under FDA Priority Review for potential use in postmenopausal women experiencing low sexual desire.
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Sprout Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturers behind Addyi, a FDA-approved pill for pre-menopausal women experiencing low sexual desire, has gained priority review by the FDA for the pill’s implication on post-menopause. Given the aesthetic industry’s portfolio of treatments, designated to address vaginal health and hormonal shifts, this medication is already seeing itself in practices, as medspas increasingly become a one-stop for medications, like GLP-1, that address biological concerns connected to outward comfort and appearance.
Menopause affects women’s sexual health vastly, as lower estrogen levels can lead to vaginal dryness and discomfort, and the mood changes associated sometimes affect women's libido. Despite this fact, in the United States, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) allocates 11% of its budget to women’s health research [1], and women’s sexual health is widely understudied compared to men.
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Sprout Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturers behind Addyi, a FDA-approved pill for pre-menopausal women experiencing low sexual desire, has gained priority review by the FDA for the pill’s implication on post-menopause. Given the aesthetic industry’s portfolio of treatments, designated to address vaginal health and hormonal shifts, this medication is already seeing itself in practices, as medspas increasingly become a one-stop for medications, like GLP-1, that address biological concerns connected to outward comfort and appearance.
Addressing an Underserved Need in Women's Sexual Health
Menopause affects women’s sexual health vastly, as lower estrogen levels can lead to vaginal dryness and discomfort, and the mood changes associated sometimes affect women's libido. Despite this fact, in the United States, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) allocates 11% of its budget to women’s health research [1], and women’s sexual health is widely understudied compared to men.
As medspas continue to evolve beyond aesthetics, Addyi may become a staple option for women addressing the deeper biological impacts of menopause.Courtesy of Sprout Pharmaceuticals July 24 Press ReleaseMaral Malekzadeh, DO offers the medication at The Well Westlake, a gynecology office in Cleveland, where she is co-owner and director of clinical operations. For her pre-menopausal patients expressing low sexual desire, Malekzadeh first reviews non-pharmacologic strategies, then discusses Addyi as an option for those who meet the criteria. She reports that feedback has been mixed but often positive, with women noting gradual improvement in spontaneous sexual desire and greater satisfaction within 4-8 weeks.
“For those who do not see improvement, it is important to address other contributing factors, including relationship dynamics and lifestyle influences,” she says.
Medspas Begin Rolling Out Addyi as a Non-Hormonal Option for Sexual Wellness
Addyi works by increasing dopamine and norepinephrine while lowering serotonin—helping to rebalance the brain signals that influence sexual desire, Malekzadeh explains. In menopause, changes in sexual desire are often linked to hormonal shifts and other factors that are best addressed with treatments such as hormone therapy or other targeted interventions.
Medical aesthetics has long offered services that women seek to address changes caused by menopause, including laser vaginal rejuvenation, hormonal replacement therapy and radiofrequency treatments for vaginal tightness and moisture, as well as PRP injections to enhance sensitivity and reduce dryness. Aesthetic practices have begun to rollout Addyi for pre-menopause low libido, including Shot Bar Medspa in Chicago, as well as Alma Medspa and Pink Medspa in Missouri, to name a few.
Addyi works very differently from hormone treatments. Instead of replacing hormones such as estrogen, it affects brain chemicals that are linked to sexual desire. Research suggests that Addyi may help some post-menopausal women, especially those who have not benefited from estrogen or who cannot use hormone therapy, Malekzadeh adds.
"Sexual desire is ageless, [and] access to care should be too,” says Cindy Eckert, founder and CEO of Sprout Pharmaceuticals. “Priority review brings us closer to expanding access and empowering more women with a science-backed, FDA approved solution for their sexual wellness."
From Premenopausal Use to Potential Postmenopausal Expansion in Medspas
Per a July 24 press release, Addyi originally received FDA approval for pre-menopausal women in 2015, and adoption was slow at first, but recent efforts have increased accessibility and awareness that we now see in medspas, Malekzadeh says. After reviewing, Health Canada also approved Addyi with expanded use in women that have gone through menopause.
“The ideal candidate is a woman who previously had a normal level of sexual desire that has since declined,” Malekzadeh says. “Her loss of desire is not caused by relationship issues, another medical condition or medication side effects, [and] she has no contraindications, such as heavy alcohol use, certain liver conditions and is open to a daily medication that may take several weeks to show results.”
While Addyi has traditionally been associated with pre-menopausal use, its potential application for post-menopausal women in the U.S., following Canada’s expansion, represents a meaningful shift as medspas increasingly integrate medical treatments that address internal biological changes. Addyi could become a valuable option for women navigating the sexual health challenges of menopause in addition to aesthetic treatments.
