Flibanserin! The female “viagra” that is nothing like viagra. Let’s discuss.
There are two problems. I’ll break it down for ya:
1. Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD). This is a woman’s ongoing lack of interest in sex, to the point where it causes her personal distress or problems in her relationships. It affects one in ten women, so it’s not uncommon, but until now there has never been an FDA approved drug to treat it. Madness!
2. 26 v. 0. There are twenty six FDA approved drugs to treat various sexual dysfunctions for men, but still not a single one for women’s most common sexual complaint. There’s Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, Staxyn, Muse, Caverject, Edex… Need I continue? (No.) And for women? Women get therapy and estrogen.
This is where flibanserin comes into play. On June 4th, the FDA advisory committee voted 18-6 that they recommend approval of the drug, which would treat HSDD. Hurrah! Almost. This doesn’t meant the FDA will approve the drug. It just means their advisory committee thinks they should. We’re getting closer, though. The FDA has already rejected the drug twice, so fingers crossed they won’t this time!
Why won’t they approve the drug, you may be wondering? Perhaps it is because women do not enjoy sex like men do, so why waste time on a pointless drug? Or maybe, since women are incredibly emotional creatures, this lack of desire is all in their imaginations and there’s really no problem? Two very logical answers! However, the FDA hasn’t approved of flibanserin because the risks don’t outweigh the benefits, according to the big guys calling the shots. The main concerns of flibanserin are hypotension (low blood pressure), syncope (fainting), and central nervous system depression, all more likely with alcohol use and interaction with other medication.
And the benefits? An increase of at least one more satisfying sexual event per month. Perhaps one doesn’t seem like much, but if you’re having four satisfying sexual events per year, then boosting that to twelve to sixteen, you’d be pretty damn happy. The benefits do, indeed, outweigh the risks, despite the FDA’s beliefs. I think we should review the side effects of Viagra, too, just to compare what risks they see as reasonable for being able to pop an erection: sudden loss of vision! Fainting! An erection that lasts more than four hours (watch out for that one)! Irregular heartbeat! Chest pain! Obviously there’s nothing to worry about if you suddenly go blind and can’t see your partner, as long as you have that erection!
While both used to treat sexual dysfunction, flibanserin and Viagra work in two completely different ways. Flibanserin is treating hypoactive sexual desire. It was originally created as an antidepressant, but was found to have more success increasing a woman’s sexual desire. Viagra sends blood a-flowing downstairs to give you a stiffie, assuming you’re in the mood but can’t get it up. Most women with HSDD have all their parts in working order, they just need a little boost to get them going.
Anyway. Women: have hope that your low libido can be cured, so you can do like the bunnies do.
Hilarious parody of the Viagra commercial, to keep you giggling:
Images via Washington Post and Even the Score
Read more at BUST.com
Lady Viagra to Boost Your Libido via Your Nose
Thanks to Science You Can Have a Cyborgasm
Amber Tamblyn and David Cross Slam Gynoticians, Hilarity Ensues
