|
|
One stop destination for vital information on major women's health concerns.
About FSD
Female Sexual Disorders
Symptoms & Causes
Medications causing FSD
FSD Resources
Treatments
Basic FSD Treatments
HRT helps or doesn't?
About Vigorelle
About Estravil
Intrinsa
About Intrinsa
Intrinsa Trials
Intrinsa Female Viagra?
Why Not Viagra?
Intrinsa in the News
|
|
|
|
The Search for a Female Viagra
According to Dr. Edward Laumann, a researcher from the University of Chicago, sexual dysfunction affects more women then men: 43% compared to 31%. Lately researchers have raced to develop a libido enhancer, and it is expected that 2-3 billion dollars will be spent on products for the improvement of women’s sex lives.
Intrinsa female Viagra?
Since Viagra was launched on the market in 1998, women have asked if there is Viagra-like treatment for them also. Finally, there will be hope for women with sexual dysfunction once Procter & Gamble’s testosterone patch, Intrinsa, gets FDA’s approval. This patch is meant to increase sexual desire in women with their ovaries removed. Procter & Gamble presented Intrinsa as a transdermal patch transmitting testosterone when applied to the abdomen (although testosterone is a male hormone, it is produced is small amounts by the ovaries and adrenal glands as well).
Intrinsa is expected to be a big success on the US market, just like Viagra was for men. Its producers claim it will be the best treatment for female subjects who experienced ovary removing surgery. To reduce unpleasant downsides included by a testosterone pill, like excessive body hair and liver disorders, the manufacturer choose the patch form for Intrinsa.
While the use of testosterone for the treatment of men suffering from erectile dysfunction was approved in 1953, health care professionals have prescribed testosterone off-label during years to help women. If the testosterone patch, Intrinsa, will get the approval from the FDA, it will became the first prescription treatment developed specifically for female sexual disorders.
Even so, this medication will benefit only 30% of the women with sexual problems. Until now 90% of men suffering from erectile dysfunction responded successfully to the drug Viagra. Why does this make a difference? Because treating men it’s the easier way for drug producers to make huge profits.
Pfizer gains almost $2 billion form annual Viagra sales. Cialis and Levitra bring $1 billion income also. Specialists estimate a $7 billion market for erectile dysfunction treatments by 2007. Many pharmaceutical corporations are not tempted to develop a medicine for female sexual disorders because they consider it will be far from generating an income close to the one erectile drugs produce.
Both women and men suffer from low sexual desire and experience problems with orgasm or arousal. The difference is male disorders usually due to physical problems and can be treated by existing medicine, while female dysfunctions are more complex and can be caused by emotional as well. In this case treatments are inefficient.
Intristing information about ED oral treatments:
|
|
|
|
|
More than 12 pharmaceutical companies are searching for a low libido medicine.
Procter & Gamble thought its testosterone patch is the solution but the FDA advisory committee was not impressed.
December 2004 the FDA decided Intrinsa has low benefits and asked for additional tests regarding long-term effects before approval.
|
|
|
