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What every Nairobi lady needs to know about the new ‘Viagra’ for women


Media globally has been abuzz with the news that there is a new drug equivalent to Viagra that is designed to target women with low sex drive.

Filbanserin, or the ‘little pink pill’ as it has been popularly dubbed, has been undergoing testing over several years and only recently got approval for widespread use.

Why do women lose sexual desire?

A woman’s sexual desire is linked to many factors. Things like fatigue, stress, emotional problems, relationship issues, health problems, hormonal imbalances, medication and body image issues all contribute to a woman’s ability to enjoy sex.

Contrary to popular belief, the frequency with which a woman has sexual intercourse has little to do with her sexual desire or satisfaction.

A woman can actually be having multiple sexual encounters in a week but find them totally unsatisfying (basically ‘forces’ herself to comply with her partner’s wishes) while another can have three or four sessions a month and find them deeply enjoyable.

In order to say a woman has low sexual desire, she usually would have no interest in any type of sexual activity and doesn’t have sexual fantasies or thoughts (or rarely has them).

What exactly does filbanserin do?

Filbanserin treats a condition known as ‘hypoactive sexual desire disorder’ (HSDD). This refers to a woman who is otherwise healthy but has a low libido (lacks sexual desire).

Filbanserin was originally developed as an anti-depressant. Developers, however, found that it was not very effective for this but women using it found that their libido improved.

This is because it stimulates the chemicals in the brain that help improve one’s sexual desire. It has been found to be effective in women of all ages.

Female Viagra? Not quite

The active ingredient of Viagra is a chemical which is capable of increasing the blood supply to the penis resulting in a sustained erection. Filbanserin, does not increase blood supply to the vagina or vulva. It acts on the chemicals in the brain which enhance sexual satisfaction.

The ‘little pink pill’ may not be your solution

Filbanserin is not every woman’s solution. Female sexual drive is a result of physical, mental and emotional well-being. If your sexual problems are due to mental inhibitions, emotional, hormonal or medical problems, filbanserin will not work for you.

Should you buy filbanserin over the counter?

No. Buying this drug to ‘test and see if it works’ is ill-advised. If you are having sexual problems, speak to your doctor first. Make sure there are no other explanations for your poor sexual response. Let them assess you for other health problems like diabetes, depression, thyroid problems etc.

If your doctor thinks that you may benefit from filbanserin, let them assess you to see if the drug is a suitable solution for you.

What are the possible side-effects?

Low blood pressure, dizzy spells, nausea, fainting, anxiety, fatigue, dry mouth and insomnia are all possible side-effects of filbanserin. Since it is a new drug, there is little information about long-term effects.

Should a woman take this drug just before sex?

No. Unlike Viagra which is taken just before sex, filbanserin will need to be taken daily in order to be effective. It needs a longer period of usage (weeks) before a woman begins to notice positive changes as compared to the male Viagra which can be effective after one use.

Does this drug dramatically improve a woman’s sex life?

Approximately 15-20per cent of women report having a low libido. With the use of this drug, most women report an improvement in sexual desire and sexual satisfaction. They, however, do not become excessively sexual or hyper-aroused. In other words, they don’t walk around feeling aroused just because they are on the drug.

Is Filbanserin available in Kenya?

Not yet. It will be made available globally from October.

SOURCE: Business Daily