There’s Viagra, Cialis or Levitra for men and their sexual dysfunctions. On the other hand, for women there’s… nothing. The question as to why has long been bothering many women, especially those who suffer from hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD).
This disorder is when you have vaginal dryness, or generally just lost the desire to have sexual intercourse. Many women suffer from this disorder and it is caused by many things. Stress, work, low self esteem, family-related issues, the kids, the lack of time and much more, so to speak. Women have many factors affecting and preventing their sexual desires.
Thus, identifying a specific root cause has proven to be complex and complicated after years and years of study. Unlike men who can feel their arousal easily through erections, women have a lot more complex arousals. A woman can feel aroused, but not horny, and so there is still a chance that sex will not happen.
The missing Viagra pill for women have sparked debates and arguments whether this is because of gender inequality or just simply because women’s libido are far more complex to be summarized into one pill than that of men. It’s a battle of the sexes in the medical world.
That Little Libido Pill
A pill developed by the pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim, called Flibanserin has been put into research and study in more than 11,000 women when it was formulated. The results came back with astonishingly positive effects on women who are not only at their menopausal stage, but women aging 18 to 44 years old who suffer from hypoactive sexual desire disorder.
Results from one particular patient who shared her experience said that before she took “the pill,” she and her husband have been having problems with their sex life.
This was due to justifiable factors like having to take care of the kids, a day-long of stress at work and the tired body after a long day, disallowing her to feel any form of excitement with the thought of having sex with her husband, and sees it more as an activity that could add fatigue to her body.
This has affected their marriage immensely. When she heard about the clinical studies being conducted, she signed up immediately and was given a year supply of Flibanserin, prompting an exciting change in her libido and sexual desire. From that point on, she felt a noticeable change in her physical aspects.
She became very active, doing exercises on top of her daily activities, and to top it off, she and her husband have started to be sexually active again. They went from having sex once in every three weeks, to two times a week.
Unfortunately, when the year of study ended, so did the supply of Flibanserin. Ever since the year-long clinical studies have ended, she had been waiting for it to be released in the market but has been disappointed every time. Flibanserin has been a no-show after the research and left her and many women who depended on it hanging. She shared that her sex life gradually decreased again because of that.
Where Did Flibanserin Go?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved the release of Flibanserin on the market. This has prompted many questions in women why Flibanserin cannot get a go signal, whereas men have their unlimited supply of Viagra pills.
Many petitions have been sent to the FDA to appeal for the approval of the release of Flibanserin but in the course of many years, these petitions have been flunked.
FDA has released statements about other drugs that treat postmenopausal vaginal dryness and pain during intercourse, but these medications are just not the same as Flibanserin. So, the question remains, where did Flibanserin go? Flibanserin, based on studies, works by increasing the blood flow to the brain and the levels of dopamine and adrenaline, which causes a form of excitement, paving the way to desiring a release through sexual intercourse.
Although affecting the blood regulations in the brain, it does not have any severe side effects that can affect the brain functions. The side effects include dizziness, nausea, sleepiness and fatigue – all present in men’s Viagra pills, as well.
Why Is There No Libido Pill For Women?
A lack of sexual desire or hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) is caused by many factors for women.
A woman may feel less excited when it comes to sex because of factors affecting not only her physical health, but also emotional and psychological well-being. These factors may include:
Emotional Stress- Stress or depression can greatly affect a woman’s desire or excitement for sex.
Low Confidence- Low self-esteem can cause a huge gap in building up the desire to have sexual intercourse with your partner. You may feel insecure with your body or your performance, thus making you opt to not do it at all.
Fluctuating Hormones- Women who are in their menopausal stage produce less testosterone and oestrogen – both hormones are responsible in boosting up a woman’s libido.
Taking Medicines- If you are under medication from hypertension and depression.
Lifestyle Vices Such As Smoking And Alcohol- A little alcohol may fuel the desire but too much can kill the performance or even leave you unable to do the act. At the same time, smoking can cause health problems and hormones to change gradually which can affect your libido.
Relationship Problems- Such as lack of connection with your partner, unresolved quarrels or conflicts and not being vocal about your sexual needs can also greatly affect your hunger for sexual intercourse. With the many factors contributing to a woman’s sudden lack of desire to have sex, it is quite complicated to produce one pill to address it all and boost your sexual desire.
However, a small study has been conducted that the active ingredient in Viagra, Sildenafil Citrate, has positive results in women in terms of boosting up their sexual desires. However, this claim remains unproven and has little support.
What Can You Do While Waiting For A Libido Pill?
Unlike men where impotence is mainly caused by the lack of blood rush to the penis, women’s lack of sexual desire originates from many factors, either by one or many factors.
Therefore, it can be said that women’s hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) is all in the head and can be easily addressed without having to take any form of libido-boosting pill. You just need to identify what is causing the lack of excitement in your sexual life, and then work it out from there.
Should no libido pill be approved or distributed for women, you can try out these alternatives to keep your body going and your libido abundant –
Exercise Regularly- Keeping your body in shape and healthy will allow your testosterone and oestrogen production to be at a normal level. Staying fit and healthy will also make you confident with your body and will give you a higher self esteem.
Relax Yourself- Once in a while, take a vacation with your partner. Explore new places, take yoga classes and do new stuff together. Not being uptight all the time will pave its way to a more relaxed and stress-free you, building up desire will be easy.
Eliminate Your Lifestyle Vices That Can Affect Your Physical Well-Being- While you might say that smoking cannot affect your sexual desire, you are terribly wrong. Smoking can damage testosterone and oestrogen producing hormones which is liable for your libido. The same goes for too much alcohol intake.
Experiment With Your Partner- It’s always good to try out new things. Maybe you were bored of the same old stuff. Why don’t you try role playing? Or try out that new sex position you’ve read in the magazine?
Watch Porn With Him- Men watch porn to get turned on. You can also try it out. Watch with him and see if it gives you the same effects. There are many types of porn on the internet that you can choose from and see which one has the best effect on you.
Experiment On Foreplay- Foreplay is an important factor in building up your desire to have sexual intercourse. The finger or the tongue may already be too mainstream for you, that is why just can’t build up your desire. You can try out sex toys and other accessories. That is a new phase in your sex life that can be fun and exciting.
Lastly but definitely not the least, talk to your partner about what you want. Nothing can’t be cured by a good old talk. Letting your partner know what you want will give him direction as to how to please you and how to bring you to the edge.
It has been long since Flibanserin has been tested, given to women and then discontinued the supply. There is no news as to when they will finally release it. In the meantime, women work with conventional ways to boost up their sexual desires. The partners of these HSDD affected women can only hope for the best.