Current Studies

We are currently recruiting for the following studies:

• Painful intercourse
• All studies have been approved by an independent Human Research Ethics Committee

Potential treatment of women with painful penetrative intercourse – a topical cream (Mi-Gel^®) 

The study aim is to assess the effectiveness and safety of the application of a topical treatment combining two commonly used medicines for painful intercourse with penetration.

Participants need to be:

• Women over 18 years of age
• Sexually active (partner or self)
• Pain with penetrative sexual intercourse at the vaginal opening for three months or more
• Not currently using oral or topical amitriptyline or oestriol

If you are interested in participating please contact Liz Howard via support@whria.com.au

Dr Karen Chan Principal Investigator

Potential treatment for low sex drive in premenopausal women

The study aim is to assess the effectiveness and safety of the application of a novel treatment for low libido.

This study has finished recruitment and is in the data analysis phase. 

For full details contact Dr Jinzhu Liu via jz.liu@unsw.edu.au

A/Prof John Eden Principal Investigator

What is low libido or low sex drive?

Libido, also known as your sex drive, can vary from woman to woman and there is no right or wrong level. Many women will experience low libido at some time in their lives (1). Low libido can include absence of sexual thoughts or fantasies, loss of desire for, or interest in sexual activity and loss of response to a partner initiating sexual activity. For many women this can cause anxiety, frustration, guilt or sadness. A medical term hypoactive sexual desire disorder/dysfunction (HSDD) is used when women experience loss of sexual desire that causes them personal distress. HSDD can only be diagnosed after other factors such as depression, relationships issues and discomfort with sex have been excluded.

What is the study about?

This study is exploring a new nasal spray as a potential treatment for women with low libido or low sex drive that causes them personal distress (HSDD). The aim of the study is to measure the effect of 3 different doses administered daily, compared to placebo on sexual desire levels in women with low libido or HSDD. The study is also evaluating the treatment’s effect on the degree to which low libido or low sex drive bothers participants taking part in the study.

This study has finished recruitment and is in the data analysis phase. 

Congratulations to WHRIA’s Dr Lauren Kite, the recipient of the Robert Wrigley Pain Research Scholarship, 2018-2019. This grant helped fund the study Randomised cross-over trial assessing the efficacy of adding hyaluronic acid to local anaesthetic in pudendal nerve blocks. 

For more information please contact us today.

Privacy Policy for Research Participants

Any information about you that is obtained in connection with a research study will remain confidential and will be disclosed only with your permission. To ensure confidentiality, your information will be identified only by initials, date of birth and a study allocated number. The results of the study may be published or disclosed to other people in a way that will not identify you. The study will be conducted in accordance all relevant national and international regulatory guidelines to minimise negative impact on participants. Your medical records insofar as they relate to this study may be reviewed by officials of government related bodies or of any commercial company involved in this study. However, no personal details will be released. All data will be stored by the Women’s Health & Research Institute of Australia, under controlled (locked) access. Data will be retained for a minimum of ten years. Materials (including paper documents and computer discs) will be destroyed using an industrial shredding process.