real life

Coming soon: What women really think about female Viagra.

 

As someone who openly mocks those ads for nasal sprays that help men maintain their erections for longer (can they make one that makes him go faster so I can roll over and go to sleep already?), I can’t imagine myself wanting to use female Viagra any time soon.

That’s not to say I don’t want to improve my sex life, at some stage. Good sex is one of those things that long-term-relationship-types know comes and goes, ebbs and flows, peaks and troughs.

It’s not a priority for me right now, is what I’m trying to say (no offence, hon). There are those that say sex should always be a priority. Which is why there has been so much anticipation for the female version of Viagra that has just been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the U.S.

However, so far, reviews of the “little pink pill” are mixed.

“Good sex is one of those things that long-term-relationship-types know comes and goes.”

Known as flibanserin but marketed as Addyi, it is designed for women suffering from Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) which is defined by the manufacturers as, “women who have not gone through menopause, who have not had problems with low sexual desire in the past, and who have low sexual desire no matter the type of sexual activity, the situation, or the sexual partner.”

It is NOT for women with:

  • a medical or mental health problem;
  • problems in the relationship;
  • medicine or other drug use.

Or (added by me, not the manufacturer):

  • those who don’t have time for good sex;
  • the sleep-deprived.

Look, I shouldn’t make light of it. There were high hopes for female Viagra. Sadly, many women have been left disappointed. Researchers in the Netherlands ran a study of female Viagra and published the results in JAMA Internal Medicine, where they found limited effectiveness and side effects such as dizziness, sleepiness and nausea. Dr. Steven Woloshin and Dr. Lisa Schwartz also questioned the product’s safety.

“The FDA approved a marginally effective drug for a non-life-threatening condition in the face of substantial — and unnecessary — uncertainty about its dangers.”

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But some women say they have been thrilled by the results.

“There were high hopes for female Viagra. Sadly, many women have been left disappointed.”

Jodi Cole, a 33-year-old stay-at-home mother from Porter, Oklahoma, told CNN that before taking Addyi she never wanted to have sex with her husband, Matt, and often dreaded it but thanks to female Viagra, is enjoying sex again.

“I was amazed,” she said. “I actually enjoyed being intimate and for the first time in a long time felt that connection with Matt.”

“What (Addyi) does is give just enough support so I can think about that part of our relationship with anticipation of pleasure rather than anxiety.”

The women of Mamamia recently fessed up to how much sex they are really having. Article continues after this video.

Now questions are being raised about the study’s validity, with doctors and medical professionals saying the published results are doing women with HSDD a disservice, citing the “millions of women” suffering from the condition who are desperate for a solution.

Staff at Mamamia also have mixed opinions on the drug and shared their initial feelings anonymously:

“Sounds like a total scam to me.”

“If it actually worked with no side effects, I think it would be a great idea.”

“It doesn’t sound great.”

“I think it’s only fair. Men use a shit load of Viagra.”

“I think female arousal for whatever reason (social/biological) is different to male arousal. It’s not as physiological. So unless it has a psychological affect, I can’t see it working.”

“Women should be empowered to boost their sex lives in this way if they want, especially when they are older and there can be more biological issues. The reality of what they’ve created so far sucks though.”

“If only men realised that blue Viagra would be so much more effective if they made an equally effective pink Viagra.”

Sexual health physician Dr. Rosie King says Addyi will only help a small number of women. “A bucketload of Fliberanserin is not going to help if you don’t like your partner,” she told ABC.

Female Viagra hasn’t been approved in Australia yet and there is no indication of when it will be available. Until then, we are reliant on our tried and true methods of getting in the mood, you know, like watching a Brad Pitt movie (or whomever your libido desires).
Would you consider using female Viagra if it became available in Australia?