Is There Finally “Female Viagra” to Cure Women’s Low Sex Drive?

A magic pill might be closer than you think.

It’s no surprise one of the most common complaints among men in relationships is that they’re not getting laid enough. And women suffering from a low libido aren’t thrilled about it, either.  Now, the FDA is aiming to tackle that issue head on through America’s favorite pastime: prescription drugs!

The pill, flibanserin, was approved by the FDA on Tuesday night and will hit shelves as early as October of this year. But is it the cure-all everyone’s been waiting for? So far, the science says “probably not.” The drug has been under review and testing for years, and in the past women have reported only a “modest” increase in their sex drives, as reported by the New York Times and several other outlets.

Yet the FDA has charged onwards, citing a new test that shows “statistically significant improvement over a placebo,” according to the Washington Post: “Though just how the drug boosts desire remains unknown, flibanserin affects the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain, neurotransmitters that are key to sexual desire, and serotonin, which governs inhibition.”

The major bummer? She’s gotta be pretty much booze-free to take the little pink pill, since there are some fairly unpleasant side effects if you combine the two, like low blood pressure and fainting.

We’re skeptical, but nonetheless happy to see some research put into sex-centric medication for women. The future looks to be very, very satisfying.

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