Marrena,
First of all, I want to thank you for your book. I commend your efforts to educate women on this issue, despite resistance from the medical community.

I am a fifteen-year-old female who has been following the diet for over two months (and some variation thereof for more than a year). The biggest changes I have made recently are taking the fish oil supplement and eliminating refined sugars and carbohydrates from my diet.

Shortly after beginning the diet, I noticed a dramatic increase in my sex drive--both in physical arousal and sexual fantasy. The main thing that drew me to your book is that I have never experienced an orgasm, despite high levels of arousal. It's somewhat frustrating, and I am still searching for a way to achieve one.

My question is concerning arousal in relation to the menstrual cycle. From around the first day of my period to the beginning of ovulation, (follicular phase) I have a very strong sex drive, and feel myself closer to orgasm than other times of the month. During the second half of my cycle (luteal phase) I feel *nothing* in the way of arousal.

Admittedly, there may be other factors contributing to the sharp decline in libido during that time of the month, such as migraine, psychological changes, and overall lethargy, but the hormonal fluctuations seem to be the biggest culprit.

I'm fairly new to the experience of having a sex drive at all, since I've been on antidepressants for years and suffered from anorexia nervosa. Only recently have I begun to recover from my food issues and lower my dose of medication.

Have you encountered anyone with success in lifting sex drive during the pre-menstrual phase, and if so, what regimen (diet, supplements, exercise, and so on) did they use?

For about half the month I am in a state of high arousal--very turned on--and the rest of the time, totally insensate to all stimuli, and I'm wondering if there is anything I can do about it. I'm not having intercourse (penetration) so I'm speaking about clitoral, rather than vaginal orgasm.

Any input is greatly appreciated, and thanks again for your book. It is a fascinating read and very relevant.

It is perfectly normal to have fluctuations in one's libido during the month.

It's also perfectly normal, at fifteen, to never have had an orgasm, particularly if you are still on antidepressants.

As you are still on antidepressants and have never had an orgasm before, you should consider buying a vibrator. As you get used to the sensation and perhaps eventually are able to get off antidepressants you may be able to transition to manual stimulation, as I describe in my book.

Assuming ordering online is a difficulty, if you have access to an upscale mall, places like Sharper Image and Brookstone generally carry massagers for under $30. I have also seen them at Staples. For example, something like these:

http://www.sharperimage.com/us/en/catalog/product/sku__HF769

http://www.brookstone.com/store/product.asp?product_cod...category&prodtemp=t1

Also, water pressure can be very effective stimulation. The easiest is one of those pulsating handheld shower massagers, but even the stream of water from the tub faucet may help.

Your pattern of libido fluctuation during the month is quite typical.

My diet has actually been used to treat anorexia nervosa, I found out from a successful clinician in California who was the keynote speaker at the Massachusetts Eating Disorder Association annual conference. She independently discovered the same diet and has been using it for years to treat anorexia at her clinic.

Taking the calcium/magnesium/zinc I recommend for my diet and getting enough sunlight and/or Vitamin D will help with PMS.

Thanks for the response. You're right; I didn't really think the pattern was abnormal or atypical, but the switch mid-cycle is definitely dramatic.

I guess I was always under the impression that despite the normal shifts during a monthly cycle, most women feel *something* in the way of sexual desire during those weeks. It seems a little strange--and amusing--to me that if the majority of women are in the same boat as I am, they might be saying, "Sorry honey, not tonight. Maybe in two weeks..."

The medication thing is complicated. Because I have a long-established history of major depression and Bipolar II, I probably will be on some form of medication for the rest of my life, or at least a long time.

Wellbutrin seems to help with libido (probably the dopamine at work but I'm also on Effexor, which is the big killer in terms of sex drive. Unfortunately, it's also has one of the most brutal withdrawl associated with discontinuation. I've tried about five times to go off, and have only succeeded in reducing the dose to 75 mg (one third of the original dose, 225).

I've tried just about every vitamin/supplement, dietary, and exercise change to treat pre-menstrual symptoms, but I still have the same problems of lethargy, confusion, IBS symptoms, migraine and suicidal thoughts (even though I'm not seriously depressed.) I'm discussing with my physician alternatives including hormonal treatment, though it's all experimental right now.

Vibrators don't do much for me, and the shower thing was kind of stimulating, but of course, it's not likely to go anywhere if I'm not very turned on in the first place. (I think my mind has to be as much there as my body.)

That's really interesting that the diet has been used in connection with eating disorders. I know that restricting caloric intake and fasting completely elimintated all interest in sex for me, and when I began eating more healthily, it came back, stronger than it was before. The most surprising for me, though, was the energy I found while taking the fish oil, and I can see how that could help regulate eating patterns too.

Sometimes I hate doctors so much. Not all of them, there are a few good ones still left out there, and specialists like surgeons are okay, but most doctors are Big Pharma tools.

I know no one takes me seriously when I say this, but what if the problem is in the massive change to our food supply? Up until the beginning of this century, anyone who was able to afford meat had a good supply of omega-3 fatty acids. Then we started factory farming, feeding our cows and chickens grain instead of letting them be free-range and eat what they naturally eat.

This changes the composition of the meat to omega-6 fatty acids. Bad for you.

And what if this modern malnutrition caused all of these diseases?

current omega-3 fatty acid research

including depression and bipolar disorder. And what happened then if pharmaceutical companies grew rich treating the symptoms of omega-3 fatty acid malnutrition with drugs without ever treating the underlying cause?

Go on my diet all the way, the full dose of fish oil. It may help you gradually get off the Desexor.

I get so angry sometimes, don't mind me.

And if you are able to buy vibrators online, get a strong one, an Eroscillator or Hitachi Magic Wand. Something that plugs in the wall, particularly if you are on Effexor. Trust me, it isn't you. That's one of the worst antidepressants out there for killing libido and orgasmic function.

quote:

Originally posted by Marrena:

My diet has actually been used to treat anorexia nervosa, I found out from a successful clinician in California who was the keynote speaker at the Massachusetts Eating Disorder Association annual conference. She independently discovered the same diet and has been using it for years to treat anorexia at her clinic.

I'm curious what parts of the diet have been used in treating anorexia? Is it just the fish oil or is it several things about the diet?


didianebedeau- My roommate was having a hard time going off Zoloft before, so she took fish oil pills and that actually helped her go off it without the withdrawel side effects. Maybe you could try that? The only thing though is that you should be careful going off or switching meds since you're bipolar. Maybe you could try switching to a med that doesn't decrease sex drive so much. I've been on Effexor on the past and it made me totally dead from the waist down, no sex drive or orgasm ability!

Oddly enough it was almost my entire diet, with a couple extra things added.