What Women Want—An Explorative Study on Women's Attitudes Toward Sexuality Boosting Medication in a Sample of Swiss Women

Abstract

IntroductionThe recent approval of flibanserin to treat hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women has once again fueled the ongoing debate about medicalization of female sexual problems and the necessity of such a drug. AimTo investigate women's attitudes toward sexuality-boosting medication (SBM) and the role of factors potentially associated with these attitudes, including sexual functioning, sexual quality of life, relationship satisfaction, and personality, in an exploratory survey. MethodsA population sample of 159 women 18 to 73 years old (mean = 31.8) participated in this cross-sectional online survey. Study variables were assessed using a combination of validated questionnaires and self-constructed questions. Main Outcome MeasuresDescriptive statistics in the form of proportions and percentages and correlation and moderation analyses. ResultsSixty-one percent of women were willing to take SBM, mostly to increase orgasm frequency and intensity and sexual desire. Likeliness to take SBM correlated negatively with age (r = −0.24; P < .005) and with levels of arousal, lubrication, orgasm, and sexual satisfaction (P < .05 for all comparisons). Higher relationship satisfaction and conscientiousness moderated the association between willingness to take SBM and desire levels (P < .05 for the two comparisons). For desired properties of SBM, 48.2% of women considered an onset of action of “up to 1 hour” ideal, 41% preferred “less than 15 minutes,” and 66.9% considered a window of action of “an hour” to be ideal. ConclusionThe demand for a drug to enhance sexual performance in women exists and ideally should target desire and orgasm intensity and frequency. By taking such as drug, women hope to benefit in increased sexual satisfaction and fun with sex. Furthermore, the willingness to take SBM seems to greatly depend on the woman's relationship satisfaction and some personality characteristics.Gutsche M, Burri A. What Women Want—An Explorative Study on Women's Attitudes Toward Sexuality Boosting Medication in a Sample of Swiss Women. J Sex Med 2017;14:404–412.