“There are many women who feel the man is putting her down...and affects her interest in sex.”
When ‘female viagra’ became an officially-approved drug in August 2015, the internet went into a frenzy over the ‘magic cure’ for women’s low libido.
Of all the curious folks, those in Australia and the US topped Google searches for the new pill, named Addyi.
India initially generated the third highest volume of search. Recently, the nation has overtaken its Western counterparts as the top country searching ‘viagra for women’ on Google.
‘Female viagra’ is another popular search term for the Indians, particularly those from New Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad.
But what fuels the overwhelming intrigue in India is not unique to its population of 1.2 billion.
A 2013 study, conducted by Professor Marita McCabe and Dr Denisa Goldhammer, shows 31 per cent of women aged 18-71 of various nationalities experience low sexual desire.
Can Addyi reignite the spark in our relationships and make sex therapy a thing of the past?
What is ‘Female Viagra’?
On August 18, 2015, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Addyi to treat sexual desire disorder in women.
Marketed by Sprout Chemicals, it is described as the cure for ‘acquired, generalised hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in premenopausal women’.
The North Carolina pharmaceutical company believes Addyi will help treat ‘the most common form of female sexual dysfunction, affecting up to 1 in 10 women in the United States’.
The FDA rejected its application twice in 2010 and 2013 for imposing serious health risks, such as ‘sleepiness, dizziness, fatigue and nausea’.
Hence, its stamp of approval comes with a severe warning label for the benefit of patients and prescribers.
Dr. Janet Woodcock of the FDA says: “Because of a potentially serious interaction with alcohol, treatment with Addyi will only be available through certified health care professionals and certified pharmacies.”
What is the Difference Between Male and Female Viagra?
The blue pill for men improves blood flow to the genitals and should be taken before engaging in sexual activity.
The pink pill for women is to be taken on a daily basis. It works similar to antidepressants, which change the balance of chemicals in our brains.
Addyi increases the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine and lowers serotonin to artificially boost a woman’s sex drive.
Where Viagra is known to elicit physical side effects such as dizziness and impaired vision, Addyi is seen as more dangerous because of the need for regular intake and its impact on our central nervous system.
Is India Obsessed with Female Viagra?
Yes. “Because [Indian men] are lazy. Most of them who complain about their women being frigid don’t do foreplay or just don’t understand the woman enough,” says sexologist Dr Narayana Reddy.
Fellow sexologist, Dr Prakash Kothari, agrees and takes one of his patients as an example, who is troubled that his wife is not sexually aroused when he kisses her:
“His wife said Akash was not devoting enough time with her. And he didn’t know she couldn’t stand the smell of tobacco when he tried to kiss her.”
Clinical psychologist, Dr Anjali Chhabria, has also seen numerous stories like this, saying:
“There are many women who feel the man is putting her down, or [don’t] like his behaviour, or how he treats her and that affects her interest in sex.”
The lack of patience or understanding of female libido, coupled with an innate desire to attain a feeling of victory from sex, often leave men with more disappointment than satisfaction in the bedroom.
Dr Kothari comments: “Evidently more men than women are interested in the pill.”
However, this is not to say women have no responsibility for a sex life that has seen better days.
The use of birth control is perceived as the most common reason for a visible decrease in a woman’s sex drive.
Meanwhile, the rise of modern and independent Indian women has dramatically altered the dynamics of heterosexual relationships.
Dr Kothari explains: “Most women in urban areas are now aware that sex is their basic human right and it needs to be respected.”
Stress and anxiety – not uncommon for those who lead a busy lifestyle in big cities – also play a crucial role in reducing their mood for sex.
Some even suggest the use of Viagra has put men’s sexual prowess at odds with women reaching menopause, thus seeking ways to pump up their partners’ sexual impulses.
Is Addyi a Real Cure?
Though Addyi is now FDA-approved, many experts advise against using it and advocate the need for couples to build an open and mutual bond.
Dr Chhabria recommends: “We always counsel the couple to sort out their emotional or personality issues to enhance their sex lives.”
Dr Abraham Morgentaler at Harvard Medical School gives a perfect example of how these pills – be they blue or pink – can only work where there is genuine passion.
He recalls his patient’s encounter: “He said: ‘Doc, I followed your directions exactly. I took the pill an hour in advance. Then I watched a baseball game on TV and waited.’
“The man’s wife was in the other room, waiting too. Neither of them realised that the drug would be effective only if they were together, doing what couples do.”
Talk to your partner, understand the little things that please them physically and emotionally. It can go a much longer way than what a coloured pill can do.
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