Article by: Dr Zoe Arugay
Photo: Newscom 

Last Friday, a panel of health experts from the FDA rejected Flibanserin, an antidepressant drug touted as the "female viagra."

According to the results of the clinical trials conducted by the FDA and posted last Wednesday, results were not "compelling." These results put weight on their deliberation that there weren't enough benefits to outweight the side effects. Flibanserin caused fatigue, dizziness, nausea, anxiety and insomnia and fainting spells.

Flibanserin is an anti-depressant designed to treat a condition identified in an estimated 10 to 20 percent of women as hypoactive sexual desire disorder or HSDD. It is defined by lack of sexual desires, or fantasies causing emotional distress - clearly something psychological rather than physiological. While Viagra works by improving the blood flow where it matters, flibanserin works by targeting two recptors in the brain. According to Boehringer Ingelheim's website, flibanserin stimulates the neurotransmitter systems for dopamine and norepinephrine, and blocks the inhibitory systems which include serotonin that can inhibit sexual function. By modulating these neurotransmitter systems in selective brain areas, flibanserin may correct an imbalance in these systems, leading to a healthy sexual response.

Boehringer apparently understands the biochemistry behind desire, so it is distressing that their results failed to impress. Consequently, it is discouraging for women hoping to get a hold of the little pink pill.

Some physicians even doubt whether female sexual desire is a medical diagnosis, hence, the belief that a disease was created to sell an expensive product.

However, Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder was listed as a disorder 2002 in the Diagnositc Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (DSM). In fact, a 1999 survey in the Journal of American Medical Association that found 43 percent of U.S. women had some type of sexual dysfunction, though more rigorous, in-depth surveys have put the figure closer to 10 percent.

I do acknowledge that the issue is real for women who are exhibiting some symptoms of depression that may be affecting their relationship with their partners. Couple this with the everyday stresses of work, parenting, and whatever it is currently occupying her mind and it may spell a seemingly lack of sexual desire. Other factors have to be taken into consideration as well. This can be composed of previously existing relationship issues, low self-esteem, or maybe even a false sense of what sex should be like based on what a woman sees in a movie or overhears from other women. Worse, it can be a combination of all those.

Having said that, then these women should deserve a medication that would indeed benefit them, not something which gives them more risk than benefits.

Until then, researchers will have to continue on their quest for the female viagra.