Dear SuzyKnew!, I heard about the new female Viagra. Is this too good to be true?
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Dear Reader,
Last month an FDA advisory panel approved a new drug to address low libido in premenopausal women, which has been hailed as “female Viagra” by some. Sounds great, right? Well there is more than meets the eye to Flibanserin. There is a lot of debate about how effective this new drug really is and whether or not it’s a good thing for women’s health.
Out of the gate, we need to be clear that this is NOT female Viagra. Flibanserin acts on a different part of the body and addresses a different aspect of sex. Viagra acts directly on the penis, increasing blood flow and promoting erection. It’s for men who have a desire for sex, but have a physical barrier to performance. Flibanserin acts on the brain, promoting an increase in positive feelings about sex. It’s for women with a low libido who are depressed about this and want to increase their desire for sex. Unlike Viagra, Flibanserin has no direct effect on the vagina or clitoris, nor does it increase sensation. The two drugs aim to treat different sexual problems and in very different ways. Unlike Viagra, Flibanserin is a medication that is taken everyday.
It’s more accurate to call Flibanserin the “female libido drug”. Think of it as more like an antidepressant, than a sexual performance drug. In fact, it was originally developed as an antidepressant until women in the clinical trial reported increased sexual desire while on the drug. A new company was formed to study and promote the drug to treat low libido in women.
So it’s not a female Viagra, but is it still something we should be excited about? For the millions of women that express dissatisfaction with their libido, Flibanserin is a treatment option to consider. Low libido, or Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) is a real problem for many women. One well-cited survey of American women found that 22% of women expressed low sexual desire. A large-scaled international survey of sexual problems found that 26% to 43% of women experienced low sexual desire compared to 13% to 28% of men.
What is the cause of low libido? Our sexual lives and desires are complicated and are affected by our beliefs, lifestyle and notably our relationships. A wide range of factors can cause low libido, including: a physical illness, medications, drug and alcohol use, life changes such as having a baby or breastfeeding, hormonal changes, stress, body image…. the list goes on and on. Many couples report a disparity in desire for sex or in frequency of sex. But that does not mean that there is something wrong with one or both of the partners. The diagnosis of HSDD only occurs when the disparity causes stress and depression. The diagnosis itself is controversial because it is so subjective.
How effective is it and what are the side effects? In the clinical trials, women taking Flibanserin reported experiencing between one-half and one more satisfying sexual events per month than volunteers taking a placebo. Women in the trial also reported slightly higher levels of sexual satisfaction and desire. One question is that if this modest increase is enough of a benefit to offset the cost, side effects and potential risks. The side effects are what has many doctors and women’s health advocates concerned. Side effects include drowsiness, low blood pressure, fainting, nausea and dizziness. One woman reportedly had a concussion when she fainted while taking the medicine and hit her head. There is also concern over the effects being increased when mixed with alcohol, birth control pills and other medications.
Is this a “win” for women’s health? According to the FDA statement, “There is great need for a proven, safe, and properly labeled medication that provides meaningful and quantifiable benefits to HSDD patients.” The question that is being debated by women’s health advocates is whether or not this particular drug fulfills that need.
Here is my take: Bringing national attention to the sexual needs of women is long overdue. But it is important for SuzyKnew! readers to understand that this particular drug is intended for a small subset of women that have done the hard work to try to determine the reasons behind their low libido. Only after that work has been done, should they consider trying this new medication.
Take care.