“The Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the first medication to help women suffering from sexual dysfunction represents an important advance in women’s sexual health. The FDA has approved 26 drugs to treat sexual dysfunction in men, but until now, none for women. That’s in spite of the fact than one in ten women suffers from hypoactive sexual desire disorder.
“Now, women will finally have an option for treatment that they can discuss with their health care providers. We would hope that this will help increase the focus on developing ways to help women overcome sexual dysfunction and help end the gender inequality in this important area of health care.
“There has been a lot of concern about the side effects associated with flibanserin, and as an association representing advanced practice registered nurses, we take that seriously. We also know that the majority of FDA-approved drugs have side effects. It is important that women are educated about the side effects associated with this drug and then make their own decisions, in consultation with their health care providers, about whether to use flibanserin.”
Peggy Barksdale, MSN, RN, OCNS-C, CNS-BC is the President of the 2015-2016 NACNS Board of Directors.