Have you heard of female Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD)? If not, maybe you are familiar with the condition erectile dysfunction. Ringing any bells? Erectile dysfunction is one of many sexual dysfunctions that men can face. Luckily for men, many of these sexual dysfunctions can be cured or assisted through FDA approved medication. In fact, the FDA has approved 24 drugs to treat male sexual dysfunction. The problem? There is not one drug for women facing sexual desire disorders.
But have no fear! Sprout Pharmaceuticals has developed a medication to treat HSDD, commonly called Flibanserin. Recently, Sprout Pharmaceuticals presented the drug to the FDA in hopes of it being approved. Last week the FDA announced that it had denied the appeal to approve the drug; however, it asked for three additional studies to be conducted by Sprout, so hope is still in the air.
How does all of this affect you as a collegiette? Well, studies have estimated that one in ten women experience low sexual desire, which could be undiagnosed HSDD. For over 30 years, HSDD has been recognized as a disorder, so it is not breaking news in the medical field.
Here are the basics to keep yourself informed and empowered as a young woman.
What you should know:
- The FDA has asked Sprout to conduct three more studies to test the drug’s effect when a patient is on other medication. The third test will see if it is safe to drive while on Flibanserin.
- The FDA rejected Flibanserin in 2013 because they said it did not “outweigh side effects such as dizziness, nausea, and fatigue.” Yet aren’t these the same side effects of medication like Viagra?
- The FDA has approved 24 drugs to treat/aid in male sexual dysfunction, while having yet to approve one for women. Many companies, women’s organizations, and congressmen and congresswomen have claimed that this is gender discrimination.
- After testing Xiaflex (sexual dysfunction drug for men) on less than 1,000 men, the FDA approved the drug in less than a year. Flibanserin has been tested on more than 11,000 women and has yet to be approved.
Why women need Flibanserin:
- 1 in 10 women experience low sexual desire.
- An unsatisfying sex life is proven to cause stress in one’s personal and professional life. It can also cause stressed relations with a partner or spouse.
- Flibanserin would be the first drug available to women to treat HSDD.
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