Viagra for women: is it worth it?

The pink Viagra is finally here! A month ago, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Addyi, the first prescription drug to enhance women’s sexual desire.

Despite comparisons to Viagra, this drug is actually the first of its kind, since it treats a flagging libido, rather than the physical barriers to intercourse (low hormone levels and inability to sustain an erection).

Addyi had actually been rejected twice by the FDA and critics claim that it had eventually been pushed through despite being minimally effective, not to mention its potential side effects (low blood pressure, nausea, dizziness, fainting and sleepiness). It also comes with a very strong warning not to mix it with alcohol and to avoid it if you have any liver impairment.

I hate to be a naysayer, but it seems like more trouble than it’s worth. Is there an alternative? Well, there are a number of factors to take into account.

First that diabetes, and even pre-diabetes, can kill libido. Balancing blood sugar with lean protein, low glycaemic carbohydrates and plenty of veggies can be enormously helpful here – especially to help shed the extra pounds which can also put a damper on desire (interestingly, chronic dieting can also be devastating, since your body needs some fat to make hormones like testosterone, which are essential for sexual drive and response).

Other notorious libido killers are medications including antidepressants, antihistamines, blood pressure medications and chemotherapy drugs.

As I’ve seen numerous times at the clinic, sorting out the diet so that patients can do away with these medications has had a tremendous effect. Never has embarking on a diet to lower blood pressure looked so appealing.

Food aside, do consider lifestyle adjustments. Feeling exhausted after juggling the demands of work, family and other responsibilities leaves little space for desire. Find time to reconnect with what you enjoy and you might find that your long-lost libido reappears.