Since the FDA advisory committee voted to recommend approval of Flibanserin (brand name, Addyi) with an 18 to 6 vote on, June 4, 2015,  I’m re-publishing this, November, 2014, post.  The next step toward full FDA approval and subsequent availability through prescription will be another few months.  Now, the FDA will be scrutinizing all of the testing done by Sprout Pharmaceuticals to prove everything they said is true.

We are all given something to struggle against so that we can let Jesus’ strength work through our weakness.  Jesus said to Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness.’

Finding strength in your weakness is finding faith.  Finding strength in your weakness also means you will grow.

The times in my life when I have grown exponentially have all involved struggle, even devastation.

Achieving a satisfying sex life has been a struggle.  The struggle softened my heart with compassion and convicted my spirit to persevere.  With each spicey step toward having a tiny bit of sex drive; better physical health, better emotional connection, making time to have fun (outside of the bedroom), scrutiny of the scriptures; I gained hope and self-value.

Would all this have happened if I’d been able to pop a pill?

I don’t know.

Listening to a recorded Patient Perspective session from the FDA Female Sexual Dysfunction workshop, I heard a wide range of experiences.  There was low libido and no libido, loss of well-being and loss of identity as a woman.  There was a variety of landmark moments when the libido disappeared; cancer, children, hysterectomy, SSRI’s

Some of the questions the FDA wanted answered were, “What is the ideal treatment for your condition?”  “What is your opinion on quality of engagement versus quantity of engagements?”

These questions weren’t answered clearly because these women just wanted to be heard.  They finally had a chance to voice frustration.  If these women are frustrated, there are men behind them just as affected.

One gallery comment struck a chord with me.  She said, “We must educate women on the non-medical components of arousal.”  I completely agree.

Another item that struck me while listening was that only 25% of those present had undergone any kind of relational intimacy education.  Relational education should be at the top of the list for non-medical arousal components.  My libido perked when my husband and I finally began to emotionally connect.

Here’s my background.  My dad was a senior bio-chemist at Eli Lilly.  He helped develop human synthetic insulin (humulin) among other things.  I was on a panel of kids that helped formulate just the right bubblegum flavor in amoxicillin.  My husband is a pharmacist and works in the manufacturing industry.

I believe God gave us plants to use as medicine.  God gave scientists wonderful intellects to discover new molecules.  And God gave you and I the ability to make choices.

Even though big pharma has fed and clothed me all of my life, I believe in some cases a prescription should be a last resort.  This is one of those cases.

I agree with Dr. Stephen Snyder, M.D., NYC sex therapist, that medical innovation is good.  Women should have this choice.  “I know lots of women with good relationships who’ve done all the right things to bring back their libido, and nothing has worked,” Dr. Stephen Snyder.

“I have a right to be a sexual being,” commented another attendee at the FDA symposium on Female Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder, October 28, 2014.  Absolutely.  But, unless you’ve exhausted all other mediums, keep persevering before you pop the pill.

One FDA moderator stated, “Libido is multi-factorial.”

What have I been saying to you for nearly 3 years?  That’s why it will be very difficult for the medical community to treat female interest and arousal disorders.  Libido issues may or may not be just faulty mechanics of our body.  Libido issues are emotionally charged, as well.  Each one of us has a different scenario, so that makes 16,000,000 scenarios in the US.  (According a 1999 study, 16 million US women suffer from low or no libido).

Hopefully, the FDA will be able to identify trends and group similar scenarios.  But, please don’t wait on the FDA.  You can start working on your libido at any time, especially if this is a point of contention in your marriage.  There are tons of non-medical steps you can try.

Figuring out your libido is like getting lost in a cornmaze.  It’s trial and error.  It’s frustrating, but when you make the right move you know it and are elated!

Now, to answer the question, would I be willing to take Flibanserin?  The answer is yes.  I am extremely curious about whether it’ll put my sweet juicy tingle back into action. I would like to be able offer advice to you about its effectiveness, also.

If you are low libido and feel little to no sexual desire on a consistent basis, the FDA wants to hear from you.