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Female sexual dysfunction

Nature Reviews Drug Discovery volume 4, pages 99–100 (2005)Cite this article

The success of the erectile dysfunction market ushered in a new era of opportunity for the pharmaceutical industry, one in which major companies have begun to devote time and resources to conditions that were previously considered part of the natural course of life1. Following in the footsteps of Pfizer, big pharma has used a vast amount of direct-to-consumer (DTC) and 'free-TC' advertising to create a US$3-billion-plus market that has merged the strategies of mass consumer marketing with a traditional pharma sell.

The development of products to alleviate female sexual dysfunction (FSD) has lagged considerably behind that for male sexual dysfunction. Population-based studies published during the past decade have confirmed the far-reaching extent of FSD, but fears about the mixed aetiology of the disease, including psychological as well as physiological components, might have delayed pharma's interest. Moreover, the endpoint for FSD trials, usually measured as an increase in the number of satisfying sexual encounters, is much less tangible than the male equivalent: erections that can be measured in the clinic by a device such as the RigiScan.

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Figure 1: Prevalence of female sexual dysfunction (US).
Figure 2: Relative size of sexual dysfunction markets.

References

  1. Moynihan, R. The making of a disease: female sexual dysfunction. BMJ 326, 45–47 (2003).

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  2. Laumann, E. O. et al. Sexual dysfunction in the United States. JAMA 281, 537–544 (1999).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. David Fitzhenry, Principal, and Leslie Sandberg, Senior Consultant, work for Trinity Partners, LLC, 230 Third Avenue, Waltham, 02451, Massachusetts, USA

    David Fitzhenry & Leslie Sandberg

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  1. David Fitzhenry
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  2. Leslie Sandberg
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Fitzhenry, D., Sandberg, L. Female sexual dysfunction. Nat Rev Drug Discov 4, 99–100 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd1636

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