Supporters have praised the Food and Drug Administration’s recent approval of a so-called “female Viagra” drug known as Addyi, claiming it is the cure for women struggling with low libido. There may be high demand for this drug, as 1 in 10 women are affected by Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder, or HSDD, according to the Sexual Medicine Society of North America. Only time will tell what consequences this new prescription drug will bring for the sex lives of millions of Americans, but it is likely that the negative outcomes may outweigh the good.
The first mistake is framing a pill meant to solve sexual problems for women around a previous drug that was solely designed for men, i.e. Viagra. Women have physiological and psychological sexual needs uniquely distinct from those of men. Unlike Viagra, a pill which is taken infrequently as needed, Addyi is required to be taken on a daily basis which may result in a permanent change to women’s bodies.
The FDA claims the mechanism Addyi uses to improve sexual desire is, in fact, unknown. That pill seems a little tough to swallow, when the creators of the drug itself admit that the reasons for its effectiveness are a complete mystery and it yields relatively insignificant results. In an average month, treatment with Addyi increased the number of sexually satisfying events for women by one.
Low libido itself is a foreign concept to the hyper-sexualized media society of today. Women who are constantly objectified by the media, may grow distressed when they do not meet certain expectations. The FDA explained that the disorder which Addyi is meant to cure, HSDD, is only considered a disorder when women are facing distress due to their low sexual desire.
Women with low libido may feel a variety of insecurities about their bodies and their relationships, and the pharmaceutical industry is quick to search for ways to profit off those insecurities. Rather than tackling the root of this sexual distress, which results from societal and social pressures, this drug addresses the artificial symptoms. There is a breadth of situational, physical, psychological and individual factors which need to be holistically addressed, when considering a woman’s unhappiness with her sexual lifestyle.
The FDA also revealed a host of unappealing side effects which may accompany Addyi such as low blood pressure and loss of consciousness. The one raising the most concerns is central nervous system depression, which may result in coma or death for severe cases, according to MedicineNet. There is also a potentially serious interaction between the medication and alcohol.
We are surrounded by a culture that expects immediate gratification through the rapidly updated Internet, convenient car rides from Uber and microwavable meals. However, it is crucial that people have patience and compassion with their bodies, for the best results of health and happiness. Support from family, friends and counselors, as well as the elimination of stress and unhealthy influences on a woman’s lifestyle should be the first steps taken to resolve HSDD.
Cassia Pollock is a contributing editor for Times of San Diego and a senior at UC San Diego.