Pharmacotherapy for female sexuality. Debates and developments

Journal title RIVISTA DI SESSUOLOGIA CLINICA
Author/s Valentina Rossi, Daniela Botta, Francesca Tripodi, Roberta Rossi
Publishing Year 2018 Issue 2018/2
Language Italian Pages 24 P. 5-28 File size 290 KB
DOI 10.3280/RSC2018-002001
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The scientific interest for female sexuality has grown in the last years, leading to the research of new treatments in which pharmacological and psychotherapeutic therapies could be both implied. Debates around these developments have arisen between professionals who consider pharmaceuticals as allies for clinical work on sexual dysfunctions and others who take distance to the potential female sexuality medicalization. Critics are related mainly to the arbitrary definition of what is considered normal in sexuality, the uncertain efficacy and the potential side effects of pharmacologic treatments, the risk of medications abuse and the diffusion of mechanistic vision of sexuality. Despite the same concerns could be addressed to male sexuality medicalization as well, many clinicians thinks that female sexuality is more complex and, therefore, not treatable just with a pill. Several studies on different medications efficacy on female sexuality has been conducted, but results are still controversial. Nowadays, only two medications (flibanserin and ospemifene) have been approved by Food and Drug Administration (FDA). On flibanserin, the last one approved by FDA, there are still boundaries and the prescriptions amount is still low. A This review shows a difference between pharmacotherapy for males and females’ sexual health is highlighted in the present review. For males several solutions are already available and still increasing. Moreover, every new pill is welcomed on the scientific panorama. For females, cultural biases and double standards still seems to exist and could interfere with the work on female sexual health. The biopsychosocial approach is the gold standard in male and female sexual dysfunctions’ treatment. The availability of pharmaceutic solutions also for women could be very useful for clinical work; taking into account the other varia-bles as well.

Keywords: Sexual dysfunction; sexual therapy, female sexuality, medicalization, sexual medicine.

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Valentina Rossi, Daniela Botta, Francesca Tripodi, Roberta Rossi, Farmaci per la sessualità femminile. Dibattiti e sviluppi in "RIVISTA DI SESSUOLOGIA CLINICA" 2/2018, pp 5-28, DOI: 10.3280/RSC2018-002001