Female Viagra

Viagra has helped millions of impotent men to have erections. So it is not surprising that drug companies have now developed a female version of the drug. But has anyone been successful yet? Unfortunately, the answer is no. The nearest that pharmaceutical firms have come to a female Viagra is the testosterone patch Intrinsa. Intrinsa releases a steady flow of testosterone into the body. Over time this can help to restore a woman's sex drive.

Some critics have said that female sexual dysfunction problems are too complicated to be cured by a single pill. Female sexual dysfunction can be caused by a range of problems, some physical and some psychological. Yet while female Viagra, should it be developed, would not be a 'cure all' pill, it could certainly prove to be a step forwards in the treatment of female sexual dysfunction.

Supporters of the search for a female Viagra have argued that if men can have Viagra to treat their erectile dysfunction problems, why shouldn't women have a similar drug that can cure their libido problems?

Flibanserin: a potential female Viagra

One drug that has been shown to treat female sexual dysfunction is called flibanserin. Flibanserin was initially developed as an anti-depressant. However, it was eventually discovered that flibanserin had a surprising effect: it increased the female libido. Researchers subsequently focused their efforts on trying to get the drug approved as a treatment for female sexual dysfunction.

Eventually in June 2010, flibanserin was rejected for approval by the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA said there was not enough proof that flibanserin alleviated the symptoms of Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder in women. However, the FDA did encourage the drug company that developed it to continue their research. In the future perhaps flibanserin - or a variant of the drug - could be used to help women overcome their sexual problems.

Intrinsa as a Female Viagra

When Intrinsa was first introduced to the NHS in the UK, it was hailed by newspapers as a new 'female Viagra'. While research continues into other possible female Viagra drugs for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder, Intrinsa may be the nearest that we have to such a treatment. Intrinsa is intended for women who have had their ovaries removed, and have gone through the menopause as a result.

A result of these hormonal changes can be a lack of interest in sex. A female Viagra would help to treat these problems. But how long will it be before a female Viagra hits the market? Intrinsa is one of the most widely approved treatments on offer for female libido problems.