There’s a new drug in the works that hopes to cure women of libido problem, or at least make them a bit more horny. The FDA has yet to approve the non-hormonal new drug called flibanserin, which aids its users by stimulating certain serotonin production in the brain while blocking the rest, rather than physically stimulating the body. The biggest competition for such a drug ranges from vaginal crèmes to herbal supplements, all of which lack in effectiveness and popularity. The LA Times states:
“Women receiving the highest dosage had an average of 1.7 satisfying sexual events each month beyond the baseline level of 2.7 events. Those receiving the placebo had a 0.8-event increase. The women also scored significantly higher on measures of sexual desire and significantly lower on scales measuring distress related to their sexual functioning, she said.”
This all sounds good and successful, but per usual, there are some skeptics. First, the FDA recently rejected a drug that had similar results because they feared it would be widely abused. This part really irks me. If men are allowed a wide variety of stimulating and erection-enhancing medications, why would we be concerned about women abusing a similar drug? Not to mention the fact that there are many, MANY other drugs that are often and easily abused (painkillers, ADD and ADHD medications, anti-anxiety pills, etc.). That’s why we have doctors to prescribe them. That’s why we have to go to a pharmacy to get them. That’s why they are regulated, just like this drug would be.
Second of all, some intelligent women argue that flibanserin is the wrong answer to a bigger problem:
“Liz Canner, director of the new documentary “Orgasm Inc.,” about the efforts to develop such drugs, said flibanserin ‘doesn’t deal with what causes low libido: relationship problems, stress and so forth. The idea that we can go in and change the brain by lowering inhibitions is quite disturbing.’”
Okay, I hear her on this one; I really do. But now I’m going to get personal. You see, I have sinister uterus (Endometriosis): it hurts, it cramps, it grows lesions and it swells up my insides causing a world of sexual problems. Not to mention I’m on a lot of birth control in hopes to contain my uterus’ major attitude problems. Now, being a young twenty-something, I am very concerned about maintaining a healthy, responsible and enjoyable sexual life. AND my problems don’t have anything (well mostly anything) to do with relationship problems and stress. So if there were a pill I could take that could fix my lack of libido, I would take it in a heartbeat. I’m not sure if flibanserin is the pill that will fix my problems, but I think this is a very, very important field of study. There are a lot of women who suffer from different diseases of their reproductive organs, and such ailments can really affect sexual desire and enjoyment. So please Liz Canner, don’t stand in the way of their research. And please scientists and researchers, find me a pill that works.