Medford nurse helps those whose private lives are hurt due tosexual dysfunction

The brain may be the most vital sexual organ, but it can’t do the job alone.

When the other parts don’t do their share, people come to Nisha Jackson for help.

The Medford nurse practitioner says most sexual dysfunction can be traced to psychological, physical or hormonal causes.

"Sometimes it’s all three," she says. "We work up a treatment plan based on where the problem is."

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Patients bring lagging libidos, arousal disorders, and problems achieving orgasm to Jackson’s clinic at Southern Oregon Health & Wellness. She talks with them about life at work and at home, measures their hormone levels, and examines them for physical anomalies that might impair sexual function.

"It’s pretty simple," she says of her practice, "but you’ve got to be able to ask the questions and be willing to listen."

Jackson says low hormone levels often contribute to sexual dysfunction, especially in older adults. As the body’s natural ability to produce hormones declines with age, sexual desire often wanes. So does ability to function sexually. Men can be affected just as strongly as women, although "andropause" has received little attention compared to menopause.

Her practice also includes younger patients, with complaints driven by factors such as the side effects of prescription drugs.

"The No. 1 drug that lowers sex drive for men and women is antidepressants," she says. "There are things we do to make some things better that make other things worse."

Stress can dampen desire, too, says Jackson, who earned a bachelors degree in nursing, a masters in adult health, a nurse practitioner certificate in obstetrics and gynecology, and a Ph.D. in health care management.

"My typical patient is a 38-year-old woman, usually raising kids and working," she says. "They’re going from morning till night, and they jump into bed and expect to have sex drive.

"You can’t be living in stress, eating poorly, and expect to function sexually."

Patients say Jackson has helped them reclaim their sexuality, but they were shy about revealing their identity.

"Lynn," 53, says she came to Jackson when she began to fear intimacy after 29 years of happy marriage.

"I’ve always been a very sexual person with my husband, but I just didn’t want to be touched. I was having negative feelings about sex.

"I still wanted to be attractive," the former flight attendant says, "but I didn’t want anybody to touch me."

Test results showed Lynn’s hormones were out of kilter. She had low progesterone levels and not enough testosterone — a hormone mostly associated with men, although women produce small amounts, too. Jackson prescribed a topical testosterone cream.

Lynn says she felt the results almost immediately. "I was picking up my daughter from college. By the time I got home, I couldn’t wait to see my husband.

"Sexually, it made me feel like I was 20 again."

"Tammy," 38, visited Jackson after her sexual desire waned in the wake of her hysterectomy.

"Mentally everything was there," she says, "but physically, there were some changes that couldn’t be overcome because my body had changed."

Jackson prescribed an estrogen patch, and other hormones. Tammy says the hormones do more than just make her "feel interested" in sex. They make my body respond like it’s supposed to.

"I didn’t realize what a huge role hormones have until I had my hysterectomy. It’s more than just your female parts. It’s everything."

Jackson says most health insurances cover her clinic’s services. An initial consultation costs $150. A full hormone analysis costs $115; hormones, about $40-60 per month.

She takes satisfaction from her practice because it preserves the bonds between couples: "Relationships aren’t based on sex, but if there’s something seriously wrong, it affects the relationship.

"I’m passionate about it because I can tell how many marriages have been saved."

Reach reporter Bill Kettler at 776-4492, or e-mail bkettler@mailtribune.com