Female 'Viagra’ – Will it be useful?

If a pill is developed that’s safe and effective, let’s not put up any barriers to it

The launch of Viagra by Pfizer in 1998 transformed the sexual landscape – and a female equivalent is once again on the horizon. While previous attempts at a “pink Viagra” – including nasal sprays and testosterone patches – have floundered, a Dutch company called Emotional Brain claims that early clinical trials of a new drug, Lybrido, shows promise in the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD), defined as a lack of sexual fantasies or desire for sexual activity. 

If the research proves successful, the pill could be on the market as early as 2016. But the hype around the new drug has reignited the controversy about female sexual dysfunction. Critics claim that the £1.5 billion annual market for Viagra has encouraged the pharmaceutical industry to repackage lack of sexual desire in women – triggered by factors as diverse as new motherhood, stress, ageing or a failing relationship – as a medical condition.

Viagra targets a specific physiological problem, erectile dysfunction, by improving blood flow to the penis. The problem with creating a version for women is that female arousal is thought to be more complex, involving psychological as well as physical aspects. 

Emotional Brain claims to have resolved this problem. Animal research has identified two chemicals as key to sexual desire: testosterone, which fuels dopamine, the “lust” chemical, and serotonin, which gives a sense of well-being. The theory is that if the balance of the two is incorrect, the result can be loss of libido. 

The company says its new pill, Lybrido, combines Viagra-like chemicals that stimulate blood flow to the genitals with a “coating” of testosterone. A second drug, Lybridos, appears aimed at the “psychological” aspect by temporarily suppressing serotonin, although it is still unclear how this might work.