Real Women's Experiences with the Pink Pill

Advocates for women’s health criticized the FDA’s early rejections and claimed gender bias, especially because Viagra was approved under an expedited priority review process, taking less than a year to achieve approval.

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Women are walking in and demanding, frankly, what they deserve. Literally the first headlines around Addyi were along the lines of “Female Viagra … Isn’t That Jewelry?” It’s unthinkable that that was less than a decade ago. Today, women tag their partners in ads for Addyi and publicly declare, “This is me!” HealthyWomen: Tell us about the idea behind The Pink Ceiling. Cindy Eckert: Well, it’s everything I wanted but didn't have access to when I was starting companies. As a founder, I can get to an outcome and I can reach my hand back and get more founders to that outcome, and they can reach their hands back and get more founders that outcome.

Addyi affects

I'm so grateful that people share their wild ideas with me of how they want to change the world. I see it as a great privilege to be able to do it and hopefully in some small way contribute to changing women’s health on a much greater basis. HealthyWomen: What can we expect to see next from The Pinkubator? Cindy Eckert: One of our companies just got clearance on a device that will revolutionize the epidural. It’s a mapping device for the spine that will guide you to exactly the right place the first time. Though the purposes of Addyi and Viagra are similar, Addyi corrects chemical imbalances of certain neurotransmitters in the brain that are responsible for sexual desire or excitement, which makes the drug approval process more complex.

• The popularity of pink pills reflects increasing openness about female sexuality.
• They may also contain vitamins and minerals for overall reproductive health.
• Effectiveness depends on individual health conditions and underlying issues.
• Some formulations are designed for specific age groups or hormonal states.

“Erectile dysfunction was seen as an unmet physical ailment,” said Lee.

Because of that, Viagra was evaluated as treatment to address a physical need.

Desire Starts in the Brain...

While sexual dysfunction affects both men and women, men have 26 FDA-approved treatments to choose from. A new documentary explains that it’s in part because the FDA drug approval process determines which sexual health options are available, and how restrictions or labeling decisions can limit access for certain groups. “When you look at women — premenopausal, postmenopausal, transgender individuals — the conversation of what is available to you is not dictated by you,” explains Johns Hopkins Carey Business School Law and Ethics Professor Stacey Lee in The Pink Pill: Sex, Drugs & Who Has Control. Addyi, or flibanserin, treats Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder, a common condition defined by lack of sexual desire in women. It has yet to achieve the same kind of widespread use or acceptance as men’s Viagra, which is used by millions of patients annually since its 1998 debut.

Less common

The Pink Pill recounts the journey of Sprout Pharmaceuticals Founder and CEO Cindy Eckert, the entrepreneur whose company developed and brought Addyi to market, as she set out to expand access for sexual health treatments for women. Eckert’s path in developing Addyi for patient use was more of a struggle than it should’ve been, according to the documentary, which calls out the inequalities in availability of sexual health treatment between men and women. Lee highlights that FDA choices and approvals are not just regulatory decisions, but that they also shape who can get care and how easily. “If you’re a cisgender, white male, health care in the United States is pretty darn good, and your health care experience can be a uniquely personal one,” she said. In other words, women and minority groups often don’t have a similar, positive experience. HSDD was not considered an unmet physical ailment in the eyes of the FDA but rather an unmet psychological ailment, which “immediately triggers a higher standard of review and additional safety measures,” Lee adds.

Find out if treatment is right for you.

It will change the patient experience and frankly change the cost of healthcare. HealthyWomen: What’s your advice for the next innovator or person who may be looking to start a new career later in life? About the Change to the Female Libido Pill Warning - HealthyWomen › Flibanserin: Will It Ever Become the Female Viagra? Move over, little blue pill, we ladies now have our own version of – the little pink pill. For decades, we’ve been inundated (sometimes, even comically) with commercials and information about male sexual function and sexual health.

What should I do if I miss a dose of Addyi?

While this is all well and good, very little attention was paid to the female counterpart to sexual well-being and the fact that women sometimes need a little help too. Whether it’s simply a low sex drive, experienced by roughly 33% of women, or something that manifests physically like painful intercourse, affecting a whopping 75% of women during their lifetime, female sexual dysfunction is an issue that is finally getting the attention it deserves. So what does this little pink pill (referred to as “female viagra” and called Flibanserin) do? Because a woman’s libido relies on a complexity of factors such as emotional, environmental, and physical health, the drug is thought to be beneficial because it alters dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain. In studies, the female participants reported an increase in the number of sexually satisfying events each month, which is a promising statistic. While the drugs had to be evaluated differently, supporters of Addyi claimed that stigma and overly cautious FDA warnings deterred patient use even after it was approved.

For example, doctors and pharmacists had to take a test, known as a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy assessment, to prescribe and administer Addyi.

Proper Use

The science has fueled me to keep going. HealthyWomen: Tell us one thing you want women to know about Addyi. Cindy Eckert: It’s not female Viagra — it’s so much more interesting! Addyi is believed to work on the drive center of the brain, which results in more desire for sex, less distress and ultimately more satisfying sex. Once women and doctors know how Addyi works, they understand the many ways in which Addyi isn’t about being on demand for a sexual act at all.

Incidence not known

It’s about that desire/stress center of the brain being in an optimal place when the moment is right. HealthyWomen: Have you noticed a shift in the way we view women’s sexual health since you first started on the journey with Addyi? Cindy Eckert: The shift that’s happening in women’s health is undeniable. And it’s happening because women are demanding better. I’d love to say it’s because the medical establishment has woken up and they’re proactively discussing this with women. The assessment included an online slide presentation followed by a comprehension test that proved the medical professionals knew and understood the drug’s risks of potential low blood pressure and fainting when combined with alcohol.

Why the Addyi story matters

“FDA decisions are not just scientific determinations, but structural choices that shape access, risk, and who benefits from innovation,” said Lee. The FDA declined approval for Addyi in 2010 and 2013, with some critics referring to the treatment as “an ineffective drug for a nonexistent problem.” However, data from the University of Colorado Anschutz Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology shows that 10% of women across all age groups suffer from HSDD, which can “cause significant levels of personal distress.” To put it into perspective, HSDD is just as common as autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, and in the U.S. alone there are nearly a million patients taking oral medication to treat their autoimmune condition. Though HSDD is not a threat to physical wellbeing, both conditions can have significant impact on a person’s life. Like most medications, Addyi doesn’t work for everyone, but its availability gives women struggling with HSDD an option that otherwise doesn’t exist. Even further, patients had to sign a paper vowing not to drink while on the medication even though Cialis--another medication used to treat erectile dysfunction in men--creates similar interactions with alcohol but comes with no more than an advisement to moderate alcohol use.

The Big Pink Fight for the Little Pink Pill

Still, early research didn’t quite satisfy the FDA. “When the data first went up for review in 2010, the FDA did not feel that there was enough data to support Addyi’s effectiveness,” said Lee. The drug was originally tested in a clinical trial with over 2,000 premenopausal women either taking Addyi or a placebo pill. Participants taking Addyi were 10% more likely to report an increase in satisfying sexual events. A more recent study found that about half of women taking Addyi reported benefit to their sex life. At the time of approval, the FDA argued that Addyi’s interaction with alcohol hadn’t yet been adequately studied. In 2019 and after additional research was conducted, the FDA modified its original alcohol warning for Addyi and removed the test requirement for doctors and pharmacists.

Why did Sprout have to file a separate request to treat decreased libido in women past menopause?

Flibanserin was approved by the FDA in August 2015 and will be available to patients in October 2015. Dr. Brady would be happy to review whether it is a viable option for you. It is important, as with any medication to weigh the benefits against potential side effects and alternative treatments. Specifically, it is important to avoid alcoholic beverages if a patient chooses to take Flibanserin.

As Seen In

Which leads us to the alternative treatments… Many women aren’t aware of the various treatment options for female sexual health. For example, hormone replacement therapy has been shown to significantly improve a woman’s libido. For our patients who are experiencing physical issues such as painful intercourse due to vaginal dryness, MonaLisa Touch™ therapy has been life-changing (we have a 100% satisfaction rate among our patients!). Regardless of the reasons for a woman’s lack of sexual motivation, we can help get to the root of the problem and get our patients started on the appropriate treatment. A healthy sex life is an important part of our emotional and overall wellness, and we buy blue pill can get you back into the groove! In December of 2025, the FDA approved the drug for postmenopausal women, expanding access to more patients.

• Pink pills are sometimes associated with the "pink economy" in sexual health.
• They are popular among women seeking discreet, quick solutions.
• Not all pink pills are evidence-based; some rely heavily on marketing claims.
• Consulting a healthcare professional is essential before starting any supplement.