She and her husband tried different types of stimulation, but nothing got her in the mood. "My lack of interest in sex was hard on my marriage. My husband wanted to be intimate, but I didn't. I missed that connection with him."

Amy is not alone in her experience. HSDD is a diagnosable medical condition that affects approximately 1 in 10 women in the U.S., with a profound impact on a woman's emotional state, her sense of self and her relationships.

"Trying to deal with the strain of low sexual desire was difficult. I talked to my husband about it and we looked for solutions together. Eventually, my doctor helped me enroll in a clinical trial for an HSDD investigational treatment."

"In the clinical trial, I received training on how to use an autoinjector to take the medicine at least 45 minutes before I anticipated sexual activity. I found the injection easy to use, it fit conveniently into my schedule and it put me in the driver's seat for when I wanted to take the medication. I felt empowered when my desire returned and started to look forward to being intimate with my husband again."

Following the clinical trial, Amy hoped she would one day have the choice of taking the medication again. In June 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Vyleesi™ (bremelanotide injection) to treat hypoactive (low) sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in certain premenopausal women. Vyleesi is not indicated for the enhancement of sexual performance, but women will have another treatment option for HSDD when Vyleesi is available later this month.

In the clinical trials, the most common side effects were nausea, flushing, injection site reactions, headache and vomiting. Vyleesi should not be used by women with uncontrolled high blood pressure or heart disease.

AMAG Pharmaceuticals, the company launching Vyleesi, will offer co-pay assistance to help women access Vyleesi. Patients will be able to obtain their first four-pack of Vyleesi autoinjectors with a $0 co-pay, and refills for no more than $99. Under current government regulations, pharmaceutical companies cannot offer this type of program to patients insured by federal health care programs, including Medicare and Medicaid.

Amy says, "I am motivated to share my story because I want to encourage other women to talk to their healthcare providers about distressing low sexual desire and find out what treatment options are available. They should know they do not have to suffer in silence."

Women who may be experiencing symptoms are encouraged to visit Vyleesi.com and utilize a tool called the HSDD Symptom Checker. To verify diagnosis and to see if Vyleesi might be an appropriate treatment option for them, women are encouraged to speak with their healthcare provider (HCP). An open and honest conversation between a woman and her HCP is the first step to improving desire, reducing distress and getting back to a fulfilling sex life - something all women deserve.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Do not use VYLEESI if you have uncontrolled hypertension, known heart disease or are taking oral naltrexone-containing products intended to treat opioid or alcohol addiction. Women who can become pregnant should use effective birth control during treatment with VYLEESI.

VYLEESI can cause serious side effects, including temporary increase in blood pressure and decrease in heart rate, severe nausea, and skin darkening that might be permanent.

The most common side effects of VYLEESI include nausea, flushing, injection site reactions, headache, and vomiting. But these are not all the possible side effects of VYLEESI; consult your healthcare professional for more information or visit Vyleesi.com for additional Important Safety Information.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Case in point: the flu pandemic of 1918, colloquially known as the Spanish flu, occurred during World War I and spread worldwide during 1918-1919. Published research suggests the final death toll may have been as high as 100 million.

Despite decades of developments in biology and virology at the cost of more than $80 billion, the U.S. is unprepared to handle a flu pandemic of a similar scale if one should occur, contends Dr. Steven Hatfill, a specialist physician and virologist with additional training in medical biochemistry, and experimental pathology.

After more than a decade of study, Dr. Hatfill and his team have published a book, Three Seconds Until Midnight, in which he revisits the challenges of the 1918 pandemic and highlights the limitations of the current public health system in the U.S. in the event of a serious pandemic on the scale of the 1918 event.

"There are worse viruses out there in nature than another 1918-type pandemic. They are simply waiting for the right conditions to jump into man," says Dr. Hatfill.

In addition, "the overwhelming majority of Americans assume that the CDC and public health authorities are capable of rapidly detecting when a new outbreak of infectious disease is occurring and that they will quickly respond with a vaccine, drugs, and other measures to contain the event. In reality, none of this is true with respect to a serious pandemic," he emphasizes.

In the book, Dr. Hatfill and his team point out how the U.S. has an insufficient public health workforce and lacks the "surge" medical capacity needed for a pandemic situation with mass casualties, and that no programs are currently in place to train personnel how to handle a pandemic.

Vaccine distribution is another problem, says Dr. Hatfill. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) documents show that in a pandemic on the scale of the 1918 event, a minimum of 123 to 125 million Americans will not receive any anti-viral drugs or vaccine until at or near the peak period of infection and death. Historically, the poor, socially disadvantaged urban communities will be hit the hardest.

Citizens are uninformed on how to care for family members at home if they contract a contagious and possibly lethal infection, and entire households can become ill, Dr. Hatfill says.

Dr. Hatfill's book outlines how the government can salvage its preparedness plan by considering more involvement by the military in a disaster response mode, similar to the role played by the Armed Forces after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

The major problems in pandemic preparedness occur not with the federal government but with the local city authorities who continue to be unprepared to manage an outbreak of a serious lethal infectious disease on a 1918-type scale. This includes having rational methods to manage worker absenteeism, organizing alternate care sites, expanding mortuary capabilities and teaching non-pharmaceutical interventions to the public.

"We now live under population densities that are a new phenomenon in human civilization and we have no precedent to indicate if we are nearing a threshold or not". As a consequence, every individual alive today is participating in a great on-going global biological experiment," says Dr. Hatfill.

Three Seconds Until Midnight will be available for purchase online via Amazon or Kindle in approximately mid-October. For more information, visit www.ThreeSecondsUntilMidnight.com.

Consider this: as with anything worth having, there are expenses and hassles associated with boat ownership that you may not even be aware of. But partial (fractional) ownership offers "all of the luxury and none of the hassle" according to the website of yacht co-op management company Saveene.

It works like this: The more fractions you purchase, the more yacht usage you can experience. For example, a 10 percent purchase equals approximately four weeks of yachting time each year; 20 percent entitles you to eight weeks, and so on.

For those who enjoy the periodical pleasure of luxury boating, fractional ownership is more cost-effective than sporadic charters, and has several other advantages:

- Predictability. Saveene fractional owners hold equity in the yacht and have the option to sell their fraction any time they like. Purchase as many fractions as you want, up to 10 fractions per yacht. When you choose your dates, contact Saveene and they will schedule and prepare your yacht for your arrival.

- Pampering. When you arrive at the marina, the yacht is clean, stocked, and safety-checked. Chart your course in advance, or allow your captain to create a memorable itinerary. Bring any food and beverages you choose, or Saveene yachts accommodate a chef or catering service.

- Peace of mind. With fractional ownership, you avoid many headaches associated with owning a boat outright, including maintenance, repairs, storage, transportation, and insurance. Saveene handles the business transactions of purchasing and selling the fractions as well when the time comes.

Saveene offers a range of options for yacht enthusiasts - a Sea Ray Sundancer for $19,995, a 36' Carver Mariner for a one-time fee of $ 39,995, a 64' Aicon for $89,980 or a combined usage of these for $69,985. All types are available at the same marina for viewing before making a purchase.

Sea Ray Sundancer: This 34-foot cruiser is ideal for families, and easy to maneuver along intercoastal waterways for boating, snorkeling, and dining at dockside restaurants.

Carver Mariner: This 37-foot boat features a fly bridge suited for parties, a home-size galley to accommodate larger food prep or catering, and a full entertainment center.

Aicon: The 64-foot yacht includes four full-sized cabins plus crew quarters to handle an extended excursion. All cabins include their own facilities and TV/DVD setups, and the yacht includes a collection of water toys for kids of all ages.

Want to go bigger? Saveene is also taking orders for an 85-foot Azimut yacht.

Other benefits include the opportunity to check out Saveene yachts for a risk-free trial and the ability to write off your fractional purchase on your taxes.

For more information about the benefits of yacht co-ownership, visit saveene.com.

As an older adult, the reasons for exercise change: benefits include helping to control chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, strengthening muscles to prevent falls, and improving flexibility to maintain activities of daily living.

An added benefit? Regular exercise can help boost your mood and improve your overall sense of well-being. And, you'll make new friends! (Of course, always talk to your doctor before starting any type of exercise program.)

Where to look for a new exercise program? Start with your local fitness or community center. The key is finding activities that you enjoy. Some tips to get started:

- Follow your interests. Like to dance? Swim? Maybe yoga or Tai-Chi sounds appealing. There are fitness classes for every taste and ability level.

- Follow your friends. Going to a fitness class with a friend improves your motivation and if you're going it alone - here's your chance to make new friends!

- Listen to your body. Exercise doesn't need to be painful to be beneficial. Start slow and progress over time.

- Set goals. How often do you want to exercise? How hard? Develop a three- to six-month plan so you can measure your success.

But wait, there's more: Older adults who participate in group exercise programs report improved quality of life from the social aspect of group fitness. The group creates a sense of community that helps keep you motivated.

Social isolation, which often leads to loneliness, is common among seniors, but taking a fitness class can forge a bond that keeps people coming back for exercise and extends to socializing outside of class.

In a recent study of adults aged 65 years and older, researchers surveyed 46,564 participants in the SilverSneakers fitness program between 2010 and 2016 to determine how exercise improved their quality of life.

"Even though regular physical activity is important, well-being is about more than just exercise," according to Julie Logue, Training Manager at Tivity Health. "Through SilverSneakers, you can explore all kinds of fitness programs, socialization and nutrition programs to help you live your best life. We empower members to live healthier, happier, longer."

Older adults with more frequent visits to fitness centers who participate in SilverSneakers exercise programs report significantly fewer days when they felt physically or mentally unwell and rated their physical and mental health higher than those who participated less frequently.

Curious about more ways to stay motivated to get and stay fit? During open enrollment for health insurance between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7, enroll in a plan that offers SilverSneakers, which provides members with access to more than 16,000 fitness and community locations nationwide.

To check your eligibility and find a health plan that includes SilverSneakers, call 888-423-4632 or visit silversneakers.com.

Jocelyn Vasquez is living proof of those statistics.

At a young age, her parents instilled the belief that if you owned a home, you had achieved the American dream. That dream of homeownership carried a lot of weight for her Hispanic parents, who had immigrated from El Salvador in 1977.

Jocelyn turned the dream into an aggressive goal for herself:

"My goal, as a U.S. citizen, was to graduate college and get a house before turning 30," says Jocelyn. "And, I wanted to do it on my own."

To accomplish this, the Los Angeles, California resident made a roadmap for herself. She saved, attended college and kept her student loan debt as low as possible - all without burdening her parents.

After she graduated, Jocelyn got a job as a loan officer assistant. It wasn't until she had worked there for three years that she fully understood what was needed to qualify for a mortgage. The lightbulb went off when she realized, "I really could buy my own home someday."

That was when she got serious. Because California real estate is so expensive, Jocelyn got a second job. She earned her real estate license and worked part-time as an agent, determined to save all her commission checks for a down payment.

It took her three years to build her savings, pay off bills and get her debt-to-income (DTI) ratio low enough to qualify for a loan. (Many lenders don't want a borrower's debt to be greater than 45 percent of their gross income.) Once she achieved this, it was time to execute her plan.

Jocelyn searched for a house that was less than $300,000 - not an easy task in the Greater Los Angeles Area. She looked at 16 homes before she found a 2-bed, 2 ? bath townhouse, with a 2-car garage for $285,000. Even though it was perfect for her, she took the weekend to think it over before making an offer. Unfortunately, her hesitancy cost her. By Sunday night, the seller had already accepted an offer. Jocelyn was devastated.

"I felt so discouraged, I didn't know what to do," she admitted.

"After all my hard work and determination, I couldn't believe I had missed out on this house. But I told myself what I tell all my buyers, 'If it's meant to be, it will be.'"

It must have been meant to be: Five days later, Jocelyn got an alert on her phone informing her the house was back on the market - for $7,000 less. Jocelyn immediately called the seller's agent, who told her the first buyer had backed out of the deal because his truck didn't fit in the garage. This time, Jocelyn didn't hesitate to offer the new asking price of $278,000.

Jocelyn used conventional financing with private mortgage insurance, which allowed her to put down less than 20 percent. By saving diligently, she was able to make a five-percent down payment of $13,900. Her current monthly payment of $2,020 is exactly what she paid to rent her previous 1-bed, 1-bath, 640-sq.-ft apartment in downtown LA.

"This is the best investment I've ever made," says Jocelyn. "In the two years I've owned my home, its value has increased by almost 15 percent. It took a very long time, but I knew my plan would work eventually. And, I did it all on my own at age 28. My goal now is to help other Hispanic homebuyers realize the American dream of owning their own home."

For more first-time homebuyer stories, visit readynest.com.

1 According to Fannie Mae's 2018 National Housing Survey

The Modern Wine "Factory" 

Even under FDA regulations, US mass wine producers like many in California can include up to 70 additives in their wines. Colorings like "mega purple" or "ultra-red", synthetic fertilizers, tartaric acid, powdered tannins, and gum Arabic don't even have to be disclosed on the label. Once again, consider California wines: overall, many aim for consistency year after year. Mass producing wine in some parts of the world is more like a factory than a vineyard. Though there is something to be said for uniformity, a lot of the magic of winemaking is lost. It's no surprise that all-natural and organic wines are gaining popularity year after year. 

What's Old Is New Again 

Not all wine regions use these artificial tactics. Natural winegrowing and winemaking are not new to Bordeaux. Not only has this region been making wine naturally for centuries, they are literally required to do so. They believe in the art and science of maintaining the holistic health of the region as well as each individual estate's ecosystem. Only nature determines the wine. Artificial enhancement or even irrigation is forbidden.

In Bordeaux, it's more than just the law. It's a passion for winemaking methods passed down for hundreds of years. It all starts with the "terroir"- the soil and unique climate conditions where the grapes are grown. Vineyards on two sides of the same hill can produce vastly different characteristics.

"Every year nature provides wine makers in Bordeaux a fresh canvas," says sommelier and wine expert Joel Prato. "This relationship with nature is evident in the unique taste of each Bordeaux vintage." In a place like Bordeaux, the seasons also have a huge influence on the character of a vintage. Weather can make or break a year. For example, a 2013 Bordeaux is a rare sight as fluctuating weather conditions meant many vineyards didn't have a crop to bottle. Nature determines production, not factory settings. 

Making Music (and Wine) 

Making natural wine is not always easy. To combat the elements, innovative winemakers like Damien Landouar of Château Gaby are turning heads by introducing techniques like Genodics - playing music to the vineyards to boost their natural immunity. When you can't count on additives and chemicals, you have to be creative. His vines most likely have better taste in music than most people. 

Highly Rated, Naturally 

If you're new to natural wines from places like Bordeaux or want to try a highly rated vintage from the region, here are some recommendations:

Château Gaby (Canon Fronsac) - Grown on a 350-year-old vineyard, Château Gaby is truly Bordeaux's best-kept secret. This complex and well-structured merlot blend is ranked in the top 1 percent of all wines in the region by Vivino and given 92 points by Decanter Magazine.

Château Auguste Rosé (Entre-deux-Mers) - Step aside Provence. Bordeaux is making a statement with this organic rosé. Racy, precise, and light on its feet, Château Auguste celebrates strawberries and tangerines with bright minerality.

Château Moya (Côtes de Castillon) - A picture of elegance, smooth and balanced. Taste how good organic can be with Château Moya. Awarded 96 points by Jancis Robinson, this wine is a heavenly pairing for delicate cheeses and fresh, seasonal dishes.

Château Du Parc (Saint Émilion Grand Cru) - Château Du Parc is grown on older vines in an appellation known for its wine since the days of Ancient Rome. This broad-shouldered and spicy blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc was given 94 points by James Suckling. Learn more at chateau-duparc.com.

The holiday season is a time to celebrate with friends and family. These good times of laughter and love are all natural. Shouldn't your wine be too?