The Pink Pill: The Fight for Female Sexual Desire & ‘Female Viagra’
The story of flibanserin, often called “the female Viagra,” is not simply about a drug’s arduous path to market. It’s a stark illustration of how societal attitudes and ingrained biases can shape medical research, regulatory processes and women’s access to healthcare. A fresh documentary, The Pink Pill: Sex, Drugs &. Who Has Control, meticulously unpacks this history, revealing a landscape where female desire has long been dismissed, medicalized, or simply ignored.
Barbara Gattuso, happily married for decades, experienced a gradual decline in sexual desire during her perimenopausal years. It wasn’t a result of stress, fatigue, or relationship issues, but a perplexing evaporation of libido – a feeling she describes as “somebody pulled the plug.” Her experience, shared in the documentary, highlights a common struggle for women that often goes unaddressed. Gattuso’s participation in a clinical trial for flibanserin in 2010 offered a glimmer of hope, with the drug initially restoring a sense of connection and desire. But the journey from promising clinical trial results to widespread availability proved to be fraught with obstacles.
A History Rooted in Dismissal
Originally developed as an antidepressant by Boehringer Ingelheim, flibanserin showed unexpected promise in treating Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) in women. The drug works by influencing neurotransmitters – dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin – in brain regions associated with sexual response. However, the path to FDA approval was anything but straightforward. The documentary highlights a persistent societal disinterest in female sexuality beyond reproduction, a sentiment echoed by Aisling Chin-Yee, the film’s director, who noted she had never even considered discussing her sex life with a doctor prior to researching the film. This lack of open conversation contributes to a medical establishment that often overlooks or minimizes female sexual health concerns. As The Guardian reports, many women are unaware that a drug for female sexual desire even exists.
Regulatory Hurdles and Double Standards
Despite promising trial results, the FDA rejected flibanserin multiple times, citing concerns about side effects like dizziness, nausea, and low blood pressure. The debate centered on whether the potential benefits – an increase of roughly one satisfying sexual event per month – outweighed the risks. This scrutiny stands in stark contrast to the regulatory pathway of drugs for male sexual dysfunction, like Viagra. As Chin-Yee points out, the expectation for men’s sexual health is often framed as a necessity, while similar considerations are not extended to women. The FDA’s initial review assigned flibanserin to its urology division – a more natural fit for Viagra – further illustrating this disparity.
The film as well reveals a troubling paternalism within the FDA’s questioning of the drug’s safety. One concern raised was the possibility of a woman taking flibanserin and then falling asleep while driving her children to school. Dr. Anita Clayton, a psychiatrist and consultant to Addyi, recounts this example as indicative of a broader attitude that questioned the highly necessity of addressing female sexual desire. This contrasts sharply with the acceptance of similar side effects in medications for men.
The Role of Pharmaceutical Interests and Public Perception
The story takes a complex turn with Cindy Eckert, a pharmaceutical entrepreneur who purchased flibanserin from Boehringer Ingelheim in 2011. Eckert rebranded the drug as Addyi, employing a distinctly feminine marketing strategy. Her company, Sprout Pharmaceuticals, successfully navigated the FDA approval process in 2015, but the victory was tempered by a “black box warning” – the most serious level of warning – regarding potential side effects. Doctors and pharmacists were required to undergo training to prescribe and dispense the drug, and patients were required to sign a pledge not to consume alcohol while taking it. KPBS details this winding route to market, highlighting the challenges faced by Sprout Pharmaceuticals.
Valeant Pharmaceuticals later acquired Sprout, significantly increasing the price of Addyi and ultimately shelving the drug in 2017. Eckert later reacquired Addyi, bringing it back to market, but the lingering concerns about side effects and the high cost continue to limit access. The film underscores how pharmaceutical pricing and corporate decisions can impact the availability of treatments for women’s health issues.
Beyond the Pill: A Broader Conversation
The Pink Pill doesn’t simply focus on the drug itself. It delves into the systemic issues that contribute to the neglect of female sexual health. The documentary reveals that many medical school curricula lack comprehensive training on female sexual anatomy, libido, and dysfunction. This lack of education perpetuates a cycle of dismissal and misunderstanding. The film also touches upon the broader context of women’s reproductive rights and bodily autonomy, arguing that the fight for access to treatments like Addyi is connected to the larger struggle for control over women’s bodies.
The documentary features Barbara Gattuso and her daughter, both of whom testified at the FDA’s public hearing on Addyi’s approval, sharing their personal experiences with HSDD and the impact it had on their lives. Their stories, alongside those of other women, humanize the issue and challenge the notion that low sexual desire is simply a psychological problem or a matter of personal choice. 2 News KTVN reported on Gattuso’s experience with the clinical trial in 2010, highlighting the potential benefits of the drug.
What’s Next for Female Sexual Health?
The conversation surrounding female sexual health is evolving, but significant challenges remain. Increased awareness, improved medical education, and continued research are crucial steps toward addressing the systemic biases that have historically marginalized women’s sexual needs. The film suggests a need for a more nuanced understanding of HSDD, recognizing that This proves a complex condition with a variety of potential causes and treatments. Further research is needed to explore alternative therapies and to develop more effective and accessible treatments for women struggling with low sexual desire. The goal is to empower women to have open and honest conversations about their sexual health and to receive the care and support they deserve.
The FDA continues to monitor the safety and efficacy of Addyi, and healthcare providers are encouraged to stay informed about the latest guidance. Women experiencing persistent low sexual desire should consult with a qualified healthcare professional to discuss their concerns and explore potential treatment options. NOVA’s exploration of sexual desire provides further context on the complexities of this issue.