Is flibanserin, the "female Viagra," the magic pill women have been waiting for? I don't think so. I wish I could toast the decision of the FDA to approve this option with a glass of champagne, but I can't. When combined with alcohol, flibanserin seriously increases the risk of low blood pressure and passing out. Who gains from having this option on the market? Very few. See, it isn't for libido problems caused by medical or psychological issues. So, ladies with diabetes-related sexual challenges, this ain't for you.
When I first learned about flibanserin's approval, I reached out to Paul Enzlin. He's my Belgium-based, go-to guy for research on diabetes-related sexual issues in women. Paul and his team at Belgium's Interfaculty Institute for Family and Sexuality Studies do a lot of impressive work over there. Run a search on the National Institutes of Health's pubmed.gov site to find some of his studies. He's amazing. What did Paul have to say? He's not impressed.
According to Paul, "...the evidence of its efficacy is very weak, its side-effect profile is not very favorable and its cost is quite high based on the need to take these pills on a daily basis." He also believes that this pill underestimates how sex works in women. He fears that introducing this pill will prompt couples to focus less on libido issues and more on whether or not a woman is willing or unwilling to try a drug. He also thinks that approving this medication is more about getting something on the market for women than finding an option that can really help.
I hope this drug helps the women who take it. But for the ladies with diabetes and other medical and psychological issues who have lost their mojo, please don't stop looking. Researchers, don't rest on your laurels and let the research stop here. Keep the studies going. And, if possible, develop an option that can be enjoyed with a few sips of champagne. Intimacy should be fun. If desired, women with diabetes (most can enjoy a moderate amount of alcohol) should be able to toast life's cherished moments with a celebratory glass of antioxidant-rich wine followed by some fulfilling intimate time with the one they love.
Ref: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm458734.htm
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