A new parody video from the Even the Score coalition, a coalition of national women’s health and advocacy organizations, titled #WomenDeserve Better, takes aim at a cheesy new Viagra ad featuring a beautiful British woman who wants guys to know it’s OK to get help and ask their doctors about Viagra if “ED is stopping what you started”.
But what happens when the woman counterpart isn’t in the mood because of her own sexual dysfunction?
There’s no treatment option that’s been FDA approved for women. Our gender’s most common complaint, known as hypoactive sexual desire disorder, (HSDD) causes a lack of sexual desire in women. It’s fairly common, too — 1 in 10 American women will experience it. But none will have a clinically tested, safe treatment option available in the next year.
When it comes to sexual dysfunction, men have no less than 26 FDA-approved medical options marketed for the treatment of sexual dysfunction. This includes eight medications to prescribed for erectile dysfunction alone.
The coalition of national women’s health and advocacy organizations released the parody to highlight the absurdity of gender inequalities in the pharmaceutical industry.
“So now women are being trotted out to convince men it’s okay for them to take advantage of medical treatment options for sexual dysfunction while those same women have zero options of their own. This would be laughable if it wasn’t such an indictment of the ridiculous gender inequity that exists when it comes to sexual health,” said Susan Scanlan, Chair of Even the Score and Chair emerita of the National Council of Women’s Organizations.
The video was released less than two weeks before the FDA will hold a landmark public workshop on female sexual dysfunction on Oct. 27. Even the Score plans to use this as an opportunity to discuss gender equity in sexual health. Patients, and their advocates, health care providers and sexual health experts will discuss the issue and the need for medical treatment options for women.
“We’re at a pivotal moment in the fight for gender equity in sexual health and women deserve a voice in this debate. That’s what our new video is all about – calling attention to this laughable absurdity while urging all those who believe women deserve equal options for sexual health to get involved,” Scanlan said. “We commend the FDA for its focus on female sexual dysfunction and look forward to making the voices of women who experience HSDD heard through this video parody and at the FDA workshop on October 27.”
If there was a market for it, they would be making it. Big pharm isn’t going to pass up a profit.
There is a market for it but many people don’t accept that it happens to everyone. Most of the time you only hear about it when a woman has just given birth, after that first year or so then it is just a mystery to people.
I think it’s hard for women to talk about any sexual issues that they may face. It seems that the public has always put some shame in talking openly about any sexual problems that may arise. I believe this movement can be essential in women’s rights and I hope that the FDA does provide women with more medical options in the future.
I agree with you. There are many women out there who feel totally uncomfortable when it comes to talking about their sexual problems. I am hoping for a brighter future in that regard.
For some women, sexual disorders are just as common as they are for men. There needs to be more options available for women, as well.
I agree with this. Women should have the same options for their sexual health as men do. I hope that this issue can be brought to light and that more can be done in the future for women’s health.