Viagra for women is headed for FDA approval. A new data analysis by Treato found that 80 percent of female consumers would be willing to take a daily pill to improve low sex drive.The Functional Sexology Institute warns that "there is no pill, no hormone, and no one-size-fits-all solution to such a complex and multi-dimensional experience as sexual desire." 

Flibanserin, a female version of Viagra, which is also known as "Pink Viagra", is anticipated to receive FDA approval in mid-August. 

Consumer healthcare insights company Treato surveyed more than 700 Treato.com users. The survey found that 80 percent of female survey participants would be willing to take a daily pill to improve low sex drive. 

"Analyzing online patient conversations is a key resource in understanding the unmet needs of a population," Ido Hadari, CEO of Treato, said in a statement. 

"Through our collected insights, it became clear that an overwhelming majority of women want access to a female version of Viagra. This is a huge market opportunity for pharma and healthcare advocates as well a significant opportunity to improve female consumers quality of life."

Treato compiled and analyzed thousands of online conversations happening about "Pink Viagra."  Ironically the top concerns being discussed online by women interested in taking the medication were tiredness, headaches and drowsiness. 

Popular topics being discussed online in connection to the medication were depression and menopause, which are conditions that can also cause low sex drive.

In addition, 68 percent of female survey participants felt that they had been discriminated against in how long it has taken to create of a female equivalent to Viagra, which has been on the market since 1998; however, only 47% of male survey participants felt that women have been discriminated against in the creation of a female version of Viagra.

73 percent of female survey participants said they were likely to discuss low sex drive with a doctor. Physicians could need to educate patients on their options as 70 percent of female survey participants said they had never heard of Flibanserin before participating in the survey.  

Potential FDA approval of "Pink Viagra" sends the wrong message, according to Dr. Keesha Ewers of The Functional Sexology Institute. Dr. Ewers says the potential FDA approval of "pink Viagra," sets women and the treatment of decreased female sexual desire back several decades.

Diminished libido in women has many root causes and addressing libido as a singular symptom with a singular medication is dangerous.

The experimental drug, being proposed for female libido enhancement, has not demonstrated an increase in sexual desire in clinical trials. Its side effect profile has prompted the FDA scientific advisory committee to rule against the approval of flibanserin twice.

"One in five subjects (21%) in clinical trials experienced CNS depression (somnolence, sedation, fatigue). Accidental injuries associated with CNS depression occurred more than twice as often in flibanserin-treated patients as placebo-treated patients," said Adriane Fugh-Berman MD of PharmedOut, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Georgetown University Medical Center.

"Flibanserin interacts dangerously with alcohol. In an alcohol interaction study performed at the request of the FDA, flibanserin alone was more sedating than the equivalent of four alcoholic drinks. Although the drug is meant only for use in women, the manufacturers performed the alcohol interaction study in 23 men and only two women.

"Four of the 25 subjects experienced symptomatic hypotension. Accidental injuries associated with central nervous system depression occurred more than twice as often in flibanserin-treated women as in the placebo group and 16% suffered from symptomatic low blood pressure."

In addition, flibanserin interactions with drugs commonly used by premenopausal women, like birth-control pills and anti-fungals, lead to even higher rates of sudden unconsciousness, low blood pressure and dizziness.

Decreased female sexual desire is experienced by one in three women and is the most common female sexual disorder. There is no known "cure" for low libido in women.  

"The pharmaceutical search for a pink Viagra is doomed, because there is no simple physiological route to sexual desire," said Dr. Gina Ogden, author of The Return of Desire and Expanding the Practice of Sex Therapy.

"Women's sexual response is interactive. It involves more than just physical sensation, lubrication, and other signs that can be counted and measured. It involves what women feel and think, and what sex means in their lives."

Dr. Leonore Tiefer, Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the NYU School of Medicine, comment that "defeating flibanserin has become an important agenda for women health activists."  

Functional Sexology, a science that integrates functional medicine, sexology, and psychotherapy treats women at the root cause level. From this framework of medical care, a woman with low libido has her entire hormonal system (thyroid, adrenal glands, pancreas, and ovaries) assessed. Many medications, surgeries and illnesses cause low libido.

Emotional and mental causes for low libido are not commonly assessed for in a typical office visit. Relationship conflict can cause low libido and low libido can cause relationship conflict. Depression and anxiety can causes low libido and low libido can cause depression and anxiety.

Dr. Keesha Ewers is the founder and chief medical officer of The Functional Sexology Institute. She is a board certified Functional Medicine primary care medical provider as well as a psychotherapist, and a PhD sexologist.