Viagra for Women: Reality or Just Another Dead End

After the spectacular results of Viagra for the sexual dysfunction for men it was no surprise that women were soon crying out, “where’s ours?” In response to this the Drug Companies began to pour billions of money into research to be the first to put the women’s version of a drug to help women attain sexual arousal and/or orgasm on the market. Unfortunately the results have not been as been a “one product fits all” for woman, as Viagra was for men, when it first hit the market. Now, after seven years after Viagra hit the market there are even a couple more drugs similar to Viagra that have come to the market for men but women are still waiting for their “wonder drug”.

The good news is there is a lot of research being done in several areas of female sexuality and arousal. The bad news is the female arousal and orgasmic function is much more complicated then a man’s. When talking about a woman’s sexual dysfunction there are not only just the physical factor such as hormonal levels, blood flow, and proper stimulation. What researchers have found is that woman’s satisfaction can also be heavily influenced by stress, energy levels, mood, religion, preconceptions of sex, and even her genetic makeupâÂ?¦âÂ?¦Ow, is this complicated or what?

Well, ladies don’t throw in the towel just yet. There have been some clinical trials that have yielded some very interesting results. Increasing the hormone testosterone levels by small amounts by pill or preferably a patch (it delivers the hormone at a more constant and level dosage), using a mixture of estrogen and testosterone, topical warming lubricants that bring more blood to help engorge the area and decrease dryness can help, there is even research being done with a type of implanted nerve stimulator placed in the spinal column (not spinal nerve) found accidentally while treating another disorder that may be promising. All of these treatments are showing promise but none of them have proved to be the home run scientist were hoping for.

To help you understand why it may prove useful to explain that defining sexual dysfunction in a woman isn’t as easy as in a man. In men if it doesn’t come up and go offâÂ?¦.bingo, you have dysfunction. In women, it’s a totally different kettle of fish all together. Most women define sexual dysfunction in their life as a lack of desire which as I touched on earlier can be mental: stress (children, job, social issues, and religion issues), relationship issues, and even just lack of time. There are physical issues that can also interfere with desire such as high blood pressure, depression, autoimmune disorders, thyroid levels, to mention just a few. To add to this there is confusion as to what constitutes satisfying sexual relations. You could ask ten women what they would consider to be sexually fulfilling and get ten totally different answers. Women differ in whether they need one orgasm, many orgasms, or even any orgasm to consider sex fulfilling with their partner. If you have ever discussed what orgasms feel like with your women friends then you already know that each woman feels orgasms differentlyâÂ?¦..none of them are wrong, just different. Women have described their orgasm from feeling a tingle, to the other end of the spectrum, describing a mind blowing, no control over their body, convulsion/convulsions. There have been controversies over clitoris vs. G-spot vs. vaginal orgasms to the point it’s no wonder women are so confused. There are women who could take every physical cure-all in the world for her physical dysfunction but until she is able to work out the emotional and mental aspects of overcoming the mental challenges that are challenging her sex life there is no little blue pill that is going to overcome her difficulties. Putting all the blame of female sexual dysfunction on the female psyche, however, has long outgrown the time that women will put up with it. Research has already shown that there are many women who do have a sexual dysfunction that can be greatly improved by medical intervention.

Will there be a little blue pill for woman��.it may not be blue�. but for some women, the answer is yes, and soon. Here are just a few that are already being tested and are ready for the market or soon will be hopefully:
I want to insert here that they tested Viagra against the placebo effect (taking a sugar pill)âÂ?¦and found no differences in satisfaction in womenâÂ?¦you’re not getting any real benefits by taking one of your partner’s Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra, but you are risking the same side effects.

Eros: approved 2000 by FDA-a clitoral suction device that increases blood flow and lubrication is out on the market
Intrinsa: testosterone patch from P&G (refused FDA approval until more long term research is done) but looks very promising in clinical trials.

PT-141: nasal spray to increase blood flow and arousal by targeting the CNS (melanocortin agonist) not out yet
LibiGe: testosterone gel Phase III clinical trials EstraVil: non-prescription herbal remedy that makes some pretty outlandish claims. This has NOT had to go through FDA approval or testing

There are gels, creams, and herbal remedies on the market that claim to increase desire and sexual satisfaction. We all know that when a new problem comes to light that not only do drug companies scramble for the new market’s dollars. There is always a surplus of nonprescription over-the-counter remedies that flood the market that can make outlandish claims which are not regulated by the FDA for safety. Please keep this in mind before ingesting or using these products. The lubricating gels and warming gels are fine as long as that is all they are. It is important that you test spot them in a less “sensitive” area for sensitivity or allergic reaction first, especially the warming gels and gels with herbal/fragrences.