The need of viagra for woman
Sexuality has long since it ceased to be a taboo. Everywhere we look at; there must be at least an advertising promoting it. Even so, there are millions of people all around the world who face problems concerning their sexual orientation, sexual dysfunctions and all sorts of issues on this subject. The intimate contact with a partner is usually at the root of a good or bad relationship.
Unpleasant sex ultimately leads to a lack of intimacy, argues and even ruined marriages. What is even more complicated is to talk about sexuality from two points of view, a man’s and a woman’s.
Psychologically speaking, they are indeed built differently. Regarding this particular aspect, man’s sexual drive is somehow higher than the woman’s, the latter being more susceptible to emotional instability.
Traumas as a result of sexual abuse, negative body image or contraceptive pills, all these affect a woman’s sexual desire. Research as well as women’s personal confessions aimed at showing the effect drugs and the social circumstances change her ideas on sex. The consequence is a lower sex drive. Also, antidepressant medication is known to alter the biochemical processes taking place inside the brain. As a result, many of the patients that followed such a treatment showed a decrease in their interest in sex. In addition to that, some of them said they were unable to be aroused by their partner.
The Pink Pill Hits the Market
In August 2015, the Food and Drug Administration allowed the sale of Flibanserin. The pill that apparently one that could alleviate symptoms of hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenstrual women did create some controversy. Once it entered the pharmaceutical market in October 2015, Flibanserin, sold under the brand name Addyi by Valeant Pharmaceuticals, marked a victory in women’s sexual dysfunction’s scientific research. Initially banned, Flibanserin finally got accepted as a legal substance more as the result of continuous pressure coming from feminist groups. But why did it take so long for specialists to create such a pill for woman’s intimate issues?
One of the reasons is the fact that, for a long time, women have been disregarded as sexual beings. Facing an entire history of submission and discrimination, seen only as wives and mothers, women were not exactly expected to reveal their sexual desires. Another possible answer points to man’s and woman’s different mentalities. For men, sex has a direct connection with the physique. Their visual receptors are put to better use than a woman’s. Also, it is easier to state whether a man has an erectile dysfunction or not. The condition is more noticeable, given the fact that it affects an external organ of the body. That is why the products designed for male sexual dysfunctions are numerous and have a clear mechanism.
Substances such as Viagra and Cialis act directly on the blood vessels. That they are currently sold not only in drug stores but even on the manufacturing company’s website points towards their efficiency. The popular Viagra’s target is to increase the blood flow high enough as to produce an erection. It does not influence the brain, nor does it cause arousal by itself.
On the other hand, a woman links sexual appetite to both the body and mind. Being more emotionally sensitive, they need their brain to be stimulated for the body to react to external stimuli. Therefore, while Viagra acts on the body, Flibanserin is thought to act on the brain structure.
In a sense, Flibanserin can be seen as the woman’s Viagra. There are not enough studies on the subject as to reach such a conclusion. The pill’s allowance as a treatment for the hypoactive sexual disorder was the result of social pressure. Moreover, the sale of Flibanserin turns a severe psychological issue into a simple body dysfunction that needs just an extra pill to be solved.
Reasons for lack of sexual desire in women
Lack of sex drive is quite uncommon in men. Even when reaching old age, they resort to various treatments to continue their sexual life. Some conditions might influence a low libido in men. Most of them can indicate towards possible health issues. Factors such as depression, low testosterone levels, sleep problems or everyday stress can take to a decrease in sexual desire. In opposition, lack of libido is ordinary in a woman’s life. The main culprit is a medical condition called female sexual arousal disorder. According to the American Medical Association, a high number face in this exact moment such a problem.
Characterized by an incapacity to be aroused or maintain a state of arousal during the intercourse, this medical issue has just begun to be studied. Many of the women who allegedly suffer from this disorder do not have problems in reaching an orgasm. Most of them are in healthy relationships and feel attracted to their partners. However, there is indeed an absence of sexual desire. It manifests through lack of sexual fantasies and little to no mental arousal when it comes to initiating an intimate relationship.
Unlike men whose physical disorders lead to a decrease in sexual drive, women are negatively influenced by both physical and psychological causes. Factors such as anemia, diabetes, alcoholism and childbirth reduce a woman’s ability to physically sustain a relationship.
Concerning psychological causes, they include anxiety, depression, past sexual abuse and emotional instability. A disturbed body image can as well produce mental disturbance which ultimately brings about a loss of desire and possible issues with one’s partner. Furthermore, changes occurring as one age or after giving birth produce a shift in the hormonal levels. Estrogen, the main female sex hormone, drastically drops during menopause. Since the female sex drive is dependent on the presence of estrogen, its decrease triggers the appearance of hypoactive sexual desire disorder. Aside from that, the physical changes which the body goes through during pregnancy severely affect a woman’s perception of herself. It is no wonder that many of them suffer from depression shortly after that.
One in ten women suffers from hypoactive sexual desire disorder. A study conducted by American specialists on more than 30.000 women of different ages showed that the condition mainly affected women in their forties. Their approaching menopause justified the result and therefore recording a decrease in estrogen levels. Another study, this time, a European one, indicated that younger women were more likely to develop such a disorder. This is because they were seen as being more prone to negative body image and feeling less feminine. The low sexual desire in this group was not seen as normal. Young women’s personal issues produce changes in the brain chemistry, ones that affect their lives later on.
Female sexual dysfunctions have just begun to be studied in a more serious manner. Up until now, women did not benefit from proper medication for problems that apparently needed it. The blame only the medical system does not seem the right thing to do. The lack of research is both the result of scientific carelessness and social misconceptions. In today’s society, it is only natural for old age to bring to the surface problems in the sexual sphere. What one fails to realize is that while men can have a healthy sex drive that lasts well into the old age, women are expected to lose their desire once they reach middle age. This is more obvious in the pharmaceutical market, full of products for men. Further research combined with a woman’s ability to communicate her sexual fantasies and a positive body image freely could mark a new point of view regarding female sexuality.[1][2]
The “Little Pink Pill” Approval
Flibanserin, sold under the name of Addyi, is a relatively new substance on the market. First developed by the German company Boehringer Ingelheim, it was afterward transferred to Sprout Pharmaceuticals and is currently a medical brand of Valeant Pharmaceuticals. The pill’s legal approval was made in October 2015. Before that, it was rejected by the Food and Drug Administration not once, but twice, both in 2010 and 2013. It is inaccurate to assume, judging by this, whether Flibanserin is currently on the market because of its possible benefits or the constant pressure of various feminist groups.
Initially established as an antidepressant, it started to grow in popularity only after being certified as a treatment for the female hypoactive sexual desire disorder. The strange thing is, Flibanserin has been rejected by the FDA for this exact reason. At the time of its approval, the pill did not benefit from serious research done in this regard. Therefore, Flibanserin viewed as a libido enhancer and placebo pill are two different points of view, with none holding clear evidence.
Mass-media raised the question of whether the pill is indeed a proper treatment or appeared only as a result of marketing. In the absence of serious research, Flibanserin has gained quite a few opponents.
An American study showed the effects of Flibanserin and a placebo-based treatment on a group of women. The results were rather disappointing, in terms of Flibanserin’s efficacy when compared to the placebo. Up to 40% of the patients under placebo stated that the Flibanserin treatment worked and they have registered a reduction of negative symptoms. Other patients suffering from depression took medication with both Flibanserin and placebo. In this case, the pill proved to be rather inefficient in dealing with general anxiety and depressive states. Nonetheless, its use did show an effect in treating hypoactive sexual desire disorder. As opposed to placebo which had minimum influence, Flibanserin turned out to be a better medication for this medical condition. The research’s purpose was to indicate its antidepressant properties and not how it affects the sex drive. Thus, the final results are but a hypothesis regarding the pill’s role in treating sexual issues. In the lack of clear evidence, it is unsafe to disregard its potential inefficiency.
Another concern raised by the pill’s opponents is that at the moment of the study, there was no confirmed case of sexual dysfunctions among the participants. Some did show early symptoms of depression. There is a connection between the drug’s influence on the nervous system and a possible effect on the libido. The brain contains neurotransmitters involved in the process of impulse sending towards all regions of the body, including the sex organs. Medical evidence confirms the negative impact of stress, depression, anxiety and physical disorders like diabetes and cancer on the brain structure. Consequently, damage done at the nervous system’s level has a harmful effect on how the mind understands the sexual act. A decrease in the levels of neurotransmitters is synonymous to a diminished sexual desire.
According to Valeant Pharmaceuticals, Flibanserin is neither an aphrodisiac nor a drug able to treat physical conditions. The brain causes the disorder it has been designed for. Unlike men, whose issues are produced by a lower blood flow to the penis, women do not face a similar thing. Their problem is the result of neurochemical and hormonal changes. Additionally, its manufacturers have stated that the pill alters the activity of important neurotransmitters. More specifically, it modifies the serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine levels. By affecting the mood, they contribute to an improved state of mind. The sexual act, as many other bodily acts is an experience directly linked to a healthy mindset. Nonetheless, further research on the subject is needed to confirm these results.[3]
Flibanserin’s efficacy according to present day studies
Flibanserin is a pill used during the night, in small dosages( one per day). This temporal detail is due to the fact that blood pressure is lower than during the day. Thus, in the case of a possible negative impact, the damage done would be a small one. Again, this shows that the drug is not entirely safe for personal use. Its degree of reliability should include its use at any moment, without harmful reactions. The recommended treatment lasts for up to eight weeks. If this period is not sufficient as to indicate the pill’s benefits, then continuing the treatment would be unnecessary.
Flibanserin is prescribed to women aged eighteen or higher, with a general good health and regulated menstrual cycle. More research is to be done to establish its efficacy. However, present data is apparently a strong enough reason for it to be prescribed. According to current studies, it does not positively impact all women who use it. There are various drugs on the market which function on some and not all patients. If such is the case, Flibanserin can be beneficial even if it helps just 1% of the women buying it. There is constant demand from feminist groups and female patients in connection with the production of new drugs for female sexual dysfunctions. The woman’s sexual health must not be overlooked anymore. Under these circumstances, additional research regarding Flibanserin are not only welcomed but also compulsory.[4]
Side effects of the Little Pink Pill
That Flibanserin was banned twice before being approved should raise questions regarding its safety. As in the case of other drugs, Addyi has both active and harmful effects. Whatsoever, it’s entering the market in 2010 and 2013 was not rejected because of alleged adverse effects.
Rather, it was a lack of proper evidence that which delayed its approbation. The pill’s negative impact is a common one, unique to many other drugs. It includes symptoms such as dizziness, sleepiness, fatigue and vertigo. Certain tests have shown that it can affect the blood pressure. More evidence is needed regarding the results. During the treatment, women should avoid drinking alcohol. If administered with heavy drinks, it might cause anxiety, general tiredness, and low blood pressure. Flibanserin should not be used in combination with certain drugs without first consulting a specialist. Its action on female sexual dysfunctions makes it inappropriate to be used with yeast infection medication.[5]
Flibanserin is currently not a well-received drug on the market, with little over 4000 prescriptions made since its approval in October 2015 and until February 2016. Moreover, present studies do not show particular benefits for a healthy sexual life either. Their results exhibit a minimum impact on patients suffering from depression. Also, its placebo effect does indicate towards an improvement in female sexual dysfunctions.
Nevertheless, the amelioration is insignificant, with better results being obtained after a placebo treatment. Rather than a useful drug, Flibanserin is more a marketing strategy. It was approved only after feminists groups took a stand for the betterment of female sexuality oriented treatments. In a sense, the Food and Drugs Administration was forced to accept it as a legal substance.
Even with all the criticism, its opponents cannot argue that Flibanserin is indeed a step made in the right direction. In a society that seeks to diminish the differences between sexes, it is only natural for the famous blue pill designed for men to have a feminine counterpart. Flibanserin, the little pink pill, seems to be the ideal candidate for this position.[6]