Will Female Viagra Change The Way We Look at Women?
The Guardian reports that a new drug, originally tested as an antidepressant, has been shown to increase sexual desire in women.
Women who took the drug during the six-month trial reported more satisfying sexual encounters and higher libidos than those who were given a placebo.
Doctors involved in the study said the drug may prove to be an effective treatment for low libido, a problem they estimate affects between 9% and 26% of women, depending on their age and whether they have been through the menopauseThe drug is flibanserin, and was tested in Germany as an antidepressant. Turns out, it was a lousy cure for depression, but women taking it reported a wonderful side-efffect: an increase in sexual desire.
The new drugs raises several questions for me.
1. How quickly will it be approved by the U.S. FDA?
2. Will insurance companies pay for this drug the same way they currently pay for male ED treatments?
But I have other questions, too. If both men and women go through periods of diminished sexual desire, (assuming that this is not a permanent condition), then can't the decrease in sexual desire be seen as a natural rhythm in the life cycle? Are there times when nature simply doesn't want us to have sex?
My most important question is this, however. We already have a horrible time in this culture accepting that women have sexual desires. We still categorize women by either the "girls-gone-wild" hook-up culture or the "Purity ring-wearing not-until-I'm-married" group. We think we've made progress on this, but evidence suggests otherwise. How quickly are women condemned for deviations from the sexual norm? How quick are we to label sexually active teens girls as somehow wrong in what they're doing (even if they are being responsible and using birth control).
And what about the ultimate form of punishment: The withholding of contraceptive knowledge from sexually -active women as a form of social control. We insist on teaching abstinence-only education, try to limit young women's access to contraceptives, and make it a crime to transport a woman under 18 across state lines to get an abortion. Given that there are few states left where one can get an abortion, we've de facto made it illegal to help young women get abortions unless it's their parents who are directly involved. (And how come these same people who believe that these young women are too young to make the decision to have an abortion are therefore old enough to make the decision to bear a child?)
The same problems faced by young women are also faced by those women who do not have the financial means to travel interstate, or who do not have the money to pay for this medical procedure. And, if they do have the money to pay for the medical procedure, how much shit will they have to endure to get into see an ob-gyn who still performs abortions?
My point is that, once again, our culture will send mixed messages to women. Now, those whose libidos are going through a temporary cool phase will be told to get with the program and take a drug. Those who want to heighten their desire and take advantage of the drug will be seen as "loose" women for wanting to enjoy sex. And, while insurance companies may pay for women to have sex, they won't pay for the consequences of sex.
What a mad world we live in.
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Comments
(thumbified for purity rings gone wild)
I'll bet you anything that the answer will be "no". It will be seen as unnecessary because, after all, a woman doesn't have to want to have sex to have sex, right?
I'm also wondering if there would be pharmacists who would refuse to fill a prescription for this drug for unmarried women.
Z-hot dog! or no hot dog as the case may be.
Jeanette--what a damn good question. Will you have to provide proof of marriage to get the drug from some pharmacists? Will they be able to opt out, the way they can opt out on Emergency Contraception?
rita--yes. Pharma recognizes us as sexual beings, finally, because I think they've realized there might be a market for it.
What am I saying? Of course it'll HAVE to be intelligent -- it'll be aimed at women.
My guess? I won't be covered. Why would it - it's clearly for sluts. They'll probably want an abortion afterward, right?
But wait. I just realized that the Viagra commercials have taught me that women "want it" all the time too!
Yes, I now know that everyone wants it, all the time. It it it. The more of It, the better. No more too tired, no more too busy, no more too stressed, no more I've-got-a-headache. Any time, any place, you betcha. Want it, want it, want it. If we were all Freaky Trolls we'd be talking about cake but we're people, not Freakies, and what we want is IT.
But ... what if we don't? In fact, what if there are people out there who would have preferred that the money that will be spent to approve, advertise, and dispense Female Viagra might have been spent on, oh I don't know, cancer research, improved day care accessibility for poor working moms, college scholarships for the children of the working poor (if they're lucky enough to still be working in this economy, that is), bailouts for Wall Street bankers, or other Worthwhile Stuff?
.... Naaaaw. It. It, it, and more it. That's what it's all about.
And freethinker--I agree with you. I made the point in the blog when I wrote that perhaps, periods of low libido are a normal part of the cycle of life.
One night, after seeing a Cialis, Viagra, and Levitra ad within 15 minutes of each other, my then-15 year old asked me if "people your age are capable of having sex without pills." You watch the commercials, you would believe that any man over 40 cannot get an erection w/o drugs. Which most of us know is untrue.
But, in answer to your question, this was one of those accidental discoveries. It was intended as a treatment for depression, and what they found was that women did not want to give the drugs back because of the pleasant side effects, even though the drugs had been ineffective in treating depression.
We might argue about the value of treating mental illness over physical illness, but I do believe in parity.
I can just hear that rapid voice at the end of the commercial.
R
"And what about the ultimate form of punishment: The withholding of contraceptive knowledge from sexually-active women as a form of social control."
Human society is a seething mass of cultural contradictions, and this is but the latest. Though if flibanseran catches on, I bet the margin on it will be much more attractive than boring old contraceptive pills. Rated.
I agree with the essence of your statement, but for what it's worth, Viagra was an accidental discovery as well.
'frigidity' has long been thought of as a physiological condition that some women have, sort of like a disease or disorder. it needn't be marketed as a recreational drug or as an enhancement, but as a medication for a neurological disorder.
Karin, I can picture it now: a couple who have both taken their pills, suddenly dealing with kids who won't go to sleep.
Boanerges--I don't get the Viagra ads. Are they celebrating the pill? Women? Sex? Or boners?
Side effects--John and spotted--I wonder, too.
well, what--I should have mentioned that.
ramesh--I don't know if Viagra is shown to have a placebo effect. And I'm not accepting that women are seen as slaves in this culture, I observe that, in certain situations, women are clearly regarded as unequal, just as there are gender stereotypes about men that are also insulting and degrading.
R!
Noah was watching a wifetime network movie on the teevee last night about a promiscuous teen who bravely defended herself as the victim of a rape (Wonder Woman played her mom). The school counselor told her that she wanted lotsa sex cause she had low self-esteem and she went to group therapy and was cured.
a lot of times, I just can't figure things out. I'd say "wtf?" but I think that IS the question.
One of the symptoms of depression is a lack of interest in sex. So, it's interesting that they know that the drug did not work to cure the depression, although it treated one of the symptoms. So, what would have made it a successful antidepressant?
And OES--I'm wondering which networks will advertise it. It seems that no one turns down a Viagra commercial, but it'll be interesting to see who picks this one up.
I'm also in support of "assistence" so women can have a healthy and satisfying sex life. My problem is with prescription medication. I don't trust it. The side effects often outway the positive results. I've found other things that help when daily stress inhibits the libido. There are natural things a women can do/take to help.
:)
" If the longing persists for more than four hours, please contact your physician after updating your Facebook page".
My thoughts exactly!! Granted, no one wants to feel a diminished mojo, but in just popping a pill to cure it, a woman (or man) might not dig deeper to discover the source of the lull at the expense of her very health!
There may be relationship issues with her partner or something out of whack hormonally. Or the other issues in her life might actually require her sex drive to go dormant for awhile, like illness in herself or a family member, or the energy needed to find a new job.
Pills, pills and more pills. Yikes.
Yup, and its genesis is twofold:
Lousy lover
Excuse used by husband to get some on the side