“Pink Viagra” up for approval from FDA

A German pharmaceutical company has produced a new drug called flibanserin, which has been shown to improve women’s sexual desire. Flibanserin was previously used in a clinical study to treat Hypo Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD), in which the results reflected in an increase of satisfying sexual events and minimizing distress, a symptom associated with HSDD. On June 18, the FDA’s Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Committee will meet to discuss the approval of Flibanserin as the new Viagra for women.  Unlike Viagra, which stimulates blood flow, flibanserin works in the brain, decreasing serotonin while increasing dopamine and norepinephrine, two neurotransmitters that regulate mood and behavior. While there are many reasons why a woman could have a decreased sex drive, flibanserin could very well become an option for treatment.

Amy Allina of the National Women’s Health Network stated, “Achieving a happy and healthy sex life can be a real and important problem for some women,” she also added that, “But we have lots of questions about the ‘pink Viagra.” I agree with Ms. Allina that before the FDA approves the new drug, we need to know more about it. Dr. Joel Match, a Reston-based OB-GYN was interviewed in the article, “On Your Side: ‘Female Viagra’ Up for FDA Approval” saying that while he welcomes new treatment for women with low libido, he cautions women with low sex drive to find the cause given that low libido could be a sign of other problems, such as diabetes or depression. I also hope that doctors do not start immediately prescribing this drug without investigating the cause of the decreased sex drive.  Female sexual dysfunction is a topic that is merely spoken in society, which is why even if the ‘pink pill’ doesn’t get approved, it brought attention to something that affects women across the country. I am happy that we are recognizing a woman’s sexual health as something important and being able to provide options for it such as flibanserin, a step towards women’s sexual health equity.

By Sheila Reynoso, Research Intern