A dose of ‘female Viagra’ could be a solution for MEN suffering from an extremely frustrating problem in the bedroom, experts claim
A 28-year-old man who had never had an orgasm in his life finally managed to have one thanks to ‘female Viagra’, after a number of other medications failed to work.
American doctors who treated the patient, whose name has not been released, said the drug, flibanserin, could possibly be used to treat such rare cases.
The inability to reach climax during sex or masturbation is medically called anorgasmia. The persistent form of this condition in male patients is thought to affect only one in a thousand men.
However, experts suspect that the percentages are actually higher, because some men do not seek help out of shame. In addition, it can be a side effect of certain medications.
British experts responded to the case report, saying the results could prompt a clinical trial of flibanserin to help men with rare but potentially “devastating” anorgasmia.
A 28-year-old man who had never had an orgasm in his life finally managed to have one thanks to ‘female Viagra’ after a number of other medications failed to work (stock image)
Anorgasmia differs from erectile dysfunction because men with anorgasmia can still get an erection, while men with anorgasmia have difficulty doing so.
In this case, detailed in the magazine Sexual medicineUrologists at Baylor College of Medicine Texas successfully treated a 28-year-old heterosexual man who had never experienced an orgasm in his life.
The patient had no medical reason why he could not have an orgasm. He reported that he had a good libido, no problems with urination and no depression.
Analysis of his penis also revealed that there were no physical disorders that would have caused him problems with ejaculation.
Finally, a review of his medical history revealed that he was not taking any medications that could negatively affect his orgasm, such as certain medications for high blood pressure, such as thiazide diuretics and methyldopa, or antidepressants.
So the doctors prescribed him two medications: one to boost the hormones and chemicals that cause arousal in the brain and another to increase blood flow to the genitals.
But neither helped. With one of them he even got ‘penis pain’ before the doctors stopped it.
At the same time, he underwent sex therapy to investigate whether there was a psychological cause for his inability to have an orgasm.
But despite nearly half a dozen sessions over three months, this too proved ineffective.
Doctors then tried to prescribe him a course of flibanserin, a drug commonly prescribed to women with low libido. The drug is often colloquially referred to as “female Viagra” or “little pink pill.”
This worked and after about 30 doses spread over four weeks he achieved his very first orgasm.
Flibanserin works in women by increasing the amount of neurotransmitters in the brain related to pleasure while simultaneously decreasing hormones related to happiness and mood regulation.
In the case report, doctors wrote that studies have shown that the parts of the brain responsible for orgasm are “similar” in men and women and that flibanserin therefore likely worked in a similar way in their male patient.
American doctors who treated the patient, whose name was not used, said the drug, called flibanserin and sold under the brand name Addyi, could possibly be used to treat such rare cases.
They called for further research to evaluate the efficacy and safety of flibanserin, sold under the brand name Addyi, in men with anorgasmia.
Flibanserin is available for women in the US, but is not approved for use in the UK because authorities there have determined that the side effects do not outweigh the benefits.
Commonly reported side effects of flibanserin use include dizziness, fainting, drowsiness, nausea, and tiredness.
The male patient did report experiencing notable side effects from the drug, including insomnia, drowsiness, and a “depressed and aggressive mood.”
However, he decided that the side effects were worth it for now and told doctors he would continue using the treatment on a trial basis.
Professor Roger Kirby, urologist and President of the Royal College of Medicine, responded to the research by saying that anorgasmia in men is currently difficult to treat.
“Anorgasmia is quite uncommon in men, but it can occur and can be quite devastating sexually and psychologically,” he said,
“There is currently no proven treatment for it.”
He added that a clinical trial lasting up to 12 months examining the effect of flibanserin on men might be a “good idea” now because “there’s not much we can do” for patients.
“We need a good evidence base and we need safety checks before we start promoting them,” he said.
Professor Kirby encourages men who experience persistent sexual dysfunction to seek medical help and not suffer in silence.
Although flibanserin is sometimes called “female Viagra,” there are some notable differences from the little blue pill that is available over the counter today.
First, it works on a different mechanism than Viagra, also known by its generic name sildenafil. It stimulates blood flow to the male genitals, helping them maintain an erection, rather than stimulating sexual arousal itself.
Second, sildenafil must be taken “as needed” before sexual intercourse, while patients taking flibanserin must take the drug daily for it to work.
Doctors who wrote the case report also highlighted that their patient had a lack of specific treatment options for men suffering from the condition without a clear cause.
They said that most cases of anorgasmia are caused by a side effect of another medication. This means that most patients can be treated by adjusting the medication or the dosage to prevent the unwanted side effect.