More About Viagra, Its Side Effects, and Hey—Why Isn’t There Something Like This For Women?
Let’s back up for just a minute and talk about the history of Viagra. I’ve spent a lot of time researching this drug and what I’ve read just amazes me. Did you know that it took just six short months of clinical trials to get Viagra approved to go on the market? In the world of pharmaceutical drugs, this is an incredibly short period of time.
Not to sound too cynical here, but I’m guessing that the vast majority of people who are making these types of decisions are men, and that they were more than happy to put this drug on the market. I could be wrong, but it does seem more than just a coincidence.
So Viagra goes on the market, and men start taking it, and most of them start having erections again.
This got some guys to thinking “well, if the regular amount is good, then more must be better!” which in many cases led to side effects like killer headaches and seeing a blue haze around everything.
Actually, even if you take even the recommended amount of Viagra you have to be careful, because if it is combined with other drugs like nitroglycerin, it can lead to serious problems.
One of the funniest scenes ever in a movie was in Something’s Gotta Give with Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson. Jack’s taken too much Viagra, and ends up thinking he’s having a heart attack. So he goes off to the hospital, and after evading the doctor’s questions about whether he’s taken it he’s finally told something like “we want to give you a medication to help, but if you took Viagra, it will kill you.” And then he finally admits that he took it. Everyone in the theater was just cracking up at this because I think so many people could relate to it—men love Viagra, but they don’t want to confess that they took it.
But all things considered, Viagra and its pharmaceutical cousins seem to be pretty effective. But they were never approved for women. In fact, nothing has.
Interestingly, Proctor and Gamble has been testing a product made just for women for three years, but they have yet to get it on the American market. It’s a patch called Intrinsa, and it was approved over in Europe just last year. But not here.
To recap, Viagra can get approved in six months, but Intrinsa can’t. Honestly, this whole issue just sends me over the edge. It just really seems to me that women, who want and deserve to have great sex lives, are left feeling like their needs are not as important as a man’s.
Women need to stand up and say that this is not fair, and that we deserve to take something too.
In fact, I was thinking about starting a campaign to try to get a sexual health drug approved for women—would you be willing to help me with that? I think if we work together, we can accomplish a lot!
Comments
We can't stand in the checkout line at the grocer's without being reminded of how male obsession with sex has negatively impacted how women are supposed to be treated, viewed and see themselves. I think we should go on strike, then just see which is the "weaker" sex, lol!
Jordanand,
I agree...this is screwed up, unfair and unbelievable. Men are "supposed" to have sex, women are NOT supposed to have sex (except for procreating), and let's not even talk about men or women having sex with their same gender! So....who exactly are men "supposed" to have sex with?
This reminds me of a political cartoon I saw years ago, with three panels:
1= "Bob" is shown coming out of the doctor's office with Viagra.
2= "Mary" is shown coming out of church being told she can not use birth control.
3= "Bob, Jr." in a baby carriage is scolding the church official, saying, "Bob and Mary would like to speak with you...."
And, you can insert "health insurance company" or "gender biased society" in place of ""church"...it all fits!
i agree, with the comments about men and their new friend viagra. often times it is used recreationally and doctors do not ask questions. they give it out without descretion. also, when a man goes to his doctor the doctor asks about e.d. and will treat the problem right away. when a women goes to the doctor it is not part of their assessment and if a women brings up a sexual problem at the very most they are left with sympathy and nothing more. i am a nurse i know. it is not important enough to approve something to help women. the pharmaceutical companies have made their money with medications for men. there are also clinical trials for more and better drugs for men believe it or not. most doctors believe we should go to counseling and that the causes are emotional and not a blood flow problem. ironically years ago impotence was thought to be an emtional problem with men. as women there is still a stigma that there is something sort of dirty about a women who wants a good sex life. if we had a better sex life men might find that they would not have to resort to as much viagra! researchers are going about this the wrong way. make us happy and men will be happier too. we have the same needs as men. i am one that suffers from sexual dysfunction and my insurance company will not approve a device called eros for me but will approve penis pumps and viagra for men. how screwed up is that?
Well, a new study shows that some women may benefit from Viagra in treating sexual dysfunction caused by antidepressants.
Read the full article at Google News: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jEDvgmPBhE70K2O-u4sD5k69mc6wD923432O0
Erectile dysfunction makes men wonder if Viagra is really worth the money it costs. Also, what is it with people asking for generic erectile dysfunction treatment medications online when all online pharmacies sell Viagra for discount prices?
Post new comment