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There are many factors that could down sexual arousal but a team of scientists says they may have the solution to psychosexual disorders. Kisspeptin, a sexual hormone, can enhance activity in brain regions linked to sexual arousal and romantic love.

In a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, a team of researchers at the Imperial College London are interested to see whether kisspeptin could pave the way for the treatment of psychosexual disorders, which are sexual problems that are psychological in origin.

The psychosexual disorder is a condition wherein an individual has problems becoming sexually aroused or having no feelings of sexual satisfaction as a result of psychological issues like depression, anxiety, stress, a history of sexual abuse or negative body perfections, Medical News Today reports.

Women who have these problems may be unable to achieve an orgasm or may feel pain during sexual intercourse. On the other hand, men with sexual problems may experience difficulty in getting or keeping an erection.

Kisspeptin's Role In Sexual Arousal

Kisspeptin is a naturally occurring hormone that can stimulate the release of other reproductive hormones in the body.

In the study, the researchers trialed the sex hormone on young men. About 29 men were either assigned to receive a jab of kisspeptin or placebo. In an MRI scanner, the men were shown romantic images as the researchers scanned their brains to see how the hormone affected the brain's responses.

The team of researchers has found that after the kisspeptin jab, the men who were shown sexual or romantic images of couples had enhanced activity in the structures in the brain usually stimulated by romance and sexual arousal.

The researchers said in a statement that the study could pave the way for other treatment options for infertility. Most infertility therapies are focused on biological factors. However, they added that the role of the brain and emotional processing are also important but remained unclear.