Female Viagra drug Flibanserin on the cusp of FDA approval

Since Pfizer’s male impotence wonder drug Viagra first burst onto the scene an incredible 17 years ago, it was subsequently joined by Eli Lily’s Cialis and Bayer’s Levitra by 2003.

Over the next 12 years the industry has witnessed variations on these such as the lower-strength Cialis Daily tablets for the more ‘active’ male and Levitra orodispersible tablets – especially suitable for men who aren’t comfortable with swallowing pills, wanting to take it with some discretion and without the requirement of a glass of water.

Men also have the options of the newer erectile dysfunction treatment Spedra (Avanafil) or Vitaros cream – ideal for men that have not experienced success with the aforementioned PDE5 inhibitor tablets or cannot take PDE5s for medical reasons.

If all that wasn’t enough choice, men suffering with premature ejaculation have over-the-counter premature ejaculation treatments such as Stud 100 Spray, condoms containing benzocaine like Durex Performa (to prolong climax), whilst there is also prescription medication such as Priligy, which is taken orally and works to prolong a man’s sexual performance by an average of 200% to 300%.
Simply put, men are spoilt for choice when it comes to finding the right treatment option for sexual dysfunction, whether this be for persistent impotence or premature ejaculation problems.

So, what is there for women? If Medical Specialists® Pharmacy were to quiz our thousands of patients to come up with the name of an existing female sexual dysfunction treatment, we’d be surprised if anyone could muster a reply.

In early 2014 Medical Specialists® reported how British pharmaceutical company ORLIBID were developing a drug tentatively titled ‘ORL101’, aimed at boosting a woman’s sex drive, however no further information has been released about ORL101 since then.

However, Medical Specialists® are delighted to announce that a new pill to boost a woman’s libido could be one step closer after US experts gave its endorsement. This will be fantastic news for those that have fought for women’s sex drives to get a similar medical attention to deal put into it as the male treatments.

A panel of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisers decided to vote 18-6 in favour of recommending flibanserin, a daily pill nicknamed the ‘female Viagra’ and manufactured by Sprout Pharmaceuticals, who picked up the drug back in 2011 after its initial developer, Boehringer Ingelheim, decided to drop it.

The vote came following a testimony from various women who vigorously persuaded the agency to approve the drug and told of their fear of never being able to have sex again. The final judgement of course will have to come from the FDA themselves, with a verdict on suitability for public use due later this year.

Coincidentally, flibanserin, just like the discovery of Viagra, was an unintended find. The drug was firstly developed with the intention of treating depression, but wasn’t as effective for this purpose as expected.

Many of the 11,000 women involved in the trials did note that they were experiencing some rather unexpected side effects from the flibanserin. Increased sexual interest and overall, more satisfying sexual experiences than previous, were being commonly reported.

North Carolina drug maker Sprout Pharmaceuticals, have claimed that their clinical trials have demonstrated that women have experienced a 37% rise in sexual desire in comparison to a placebo. The women reported an average of between 0.5 and one more sexually satisfying events each month, compared to those women taking a placebo. In addition, they had higher scores on questionnaires on desire and scored lower on questions about stress.

The drug – which changes brain chemistry as opposed to Viagra increasing blood flow – isn’t without a chequered history though, with the FDA twice rejecting the drug since 2010, arguing flibanserin’s benefits did not outweigh the risks, which can include low blood pressure and fainting spells.

However, Susan Scanlan, chairwoman of Even The Score, hit back and noted that Viagra can have varying side effects, arguing that the FDA hasn’t approved flibanserin because of their discomfort with women taking control over their sexuality. “The implication is that men can be trusted to make a rational decision of risk versus reward and women can’t,” she said.

The FDA has highlighted female sexual dysfunction as one of 20 priority areas of unmet medical need, and is obviously a major and genuine health problem that needs to be addressed.

Keep checking the Medical Specialists® NHS Pharmacy website for further updates about flibanserin or other female sexual dysfunction products that may become available in the future, and we already have an extension range of male impotence and premature ejaculation treatments, some of which were mentioned earlier.

It was 20 Years Ago Today – Pharmacy goes Beatle mania!

It was 20 years ago today that Medical Specialists® came to be. Not quite the phrase from the Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album that was released in 1967, but one that shows that like the Beatles, Medical Specialists® are here to stay. Medical Specialists Company Limited is the owner of the well known Medical Specialists® Pharmacy, based in Bury, Greater Manchester, which is the first ‘One Stop Online Pharmacy and Doctors’ that deals with mainly sexual health medication.

Medical Specialists® have come a long way since the first early days of the internet, from being originally clinics, to becoming one of the leading online pharmacies in Europe. “Being a massive Beatles fan, as soon as I realised that we were 20 years old, that famous phrase (It was 20 years ago today!) took hold of me and made me realise how some of the fab four’s songs could be related to many of the treatments we offer. For instance, we offer treatments for erectile dysfunction and immediately I thought of ‘A Hard Days Night’ and ‘Any Time At All’ and even ‘8 days A Week’.
 We also offer a range of treatments for premature ejaculation, and so the songs ‘I’ll Keep You Satisfied’ and ‘Come Together’ sprung to mind”, said Managing Director David Bailey.

Since the early internet days, they have steadily increased their range of medication available via online consultation or private prescription, and now include a range of treatments for Acne (‘It’s Getting Better All The Time’ said David), to treatments for STI’s (‘I Feel Fine’ said David).

“Treatments for obesity are now very popular, as people don’t want to ‘Carry the Weight’ and usually respond better with ‘A Little Help from My Friends’. I could go on and on with many of the Beatles songs relating to treatments we offer such as asthma and allergies, stomach and  bowel, alcohol dependence (new medication), migraine, and holiday and travel medications (malaria), and many other conditions that are embarrassing” said David.

Recent additions to their ever-increasing repertoire of treatments include Selincro for alcohol dependency and Vitaros cream for erectile dysfunction. Selincro works to reduce the urge to drink so that hopefully people will never again have to wake up following the night-before and think ‘I’m a Loser’ or ‘I Should Have Known Better’! “This new medication is in large demand especially from women who obviously realise they are now drinking too much on a regular basis” said David.
Vitaros cream is a topical treatment for erectile dysfunction, ideal for those who just cannot, or struggle, to take oral tablets for whatever reason. However, these people do not need to live in ‘Misery’ anymore with the introduction of this fantastic cream that can help men with male impotence that cannot take other treatments or find them ineffective.

In fact, Medical Specialists® are always at the forefront of providing the latest medication to ‘Help!’ satisfy the thousands of requests they receive from new and existing patients. With The Department of Health recently issuing an information leaflet called “Guidance on the use of emergency salbutamol inhalers in schools”, this led to Medical Specialists® being inundated with requests from schools wanting asthma inhalers and spacer masks for their first aid kits. The schools may have previously been confused as to what to do (‘If I Needed Someone’), but many certainly know where to go now – the number one pharmacy choice for thousands across the country.

Like the Beatles, Medical Specialists® have constantly evolved and improved, and now offer their service to NHS patients via ‘Electronic Prescription’ or ‘EPS2’ which is the new way that Doctors send their prescriptions electronically to the required pharmacy (a ‘Revolution’ said David). You can nominate Medical Specialists® Pharmacy as your pharmacy by going to their web site
(www.medical-specialists.co.uk) and clicking on the ‘NHS Prescriptions’ tab to find out more.

And finally, when asked when he would retire, David said with a smile…‘When I’m 64!’

How often couples have sex, and is it all over too quickly? Find out here…

The question of how frequently couples have sex on a weekly basis is one long debated, but something nobody will ever be sure of the answer to as one couple’s sex life differs to the next.

However, a sexual health expert from the US believes that the average couple tend to have sex around two to three times per week.

Dr Harry Fisch, a urologist based at the New York Presbyterian Hospital, also claims that men are generally not lasting long enough in the sack to fully satisfy their partner as men tend to orgasm a lot quicker than women do.

According to Dr Fisch, around 45% of men usually orgasm within just two minutes of beginning penetrative sex, a time that is too soon for the average woman to reach an orgasm.

In a report published on Nerve.com, he says that the majority of women actually require a time of between five to seven minutes to reach orgasm – resulting in a lot of unsatisfied women in the bedroom.

Dr Fisch goes on to say the average man has 11 erections each day and there are some young men who see having sex multiple days a day as being normal, although he adds in reality, this is not a common occurrence.

In reality, most couples are having sex in their 20s about every one to three days he believes, with this dropping to twice a week for 30 to 50-year-olds.

Some couples are content with having frequent sex, with other couples prioritising quality over quantity. He wrote in Nerve.com: “That’s really the point: not how much sex you’re having, but whether you and your partner are happy with the sex you are having. Quality wins out over quantity every time. It’s all about the satisfaction.”

The average couple has sex for 7.3 minutes at a time says Dr Fisch, but he adds this isn’t always satisfactory for the woman as women usually take longer to orgasm.

He concluded his report by urging those men who regularly ejaculate in less than two minutes, or take more than 40, to see their doctor.

For those who are concerned they are suffering from premature ejaculation (PE), your doctor can provide a diagnosis and speak to you about available treatments. Before this however, the website Firing Too Quickly offers a Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT); the results of which can be used when first discussing the problem with your doctor.

The Firing Too Quickly website is a fantastic guide for any man who believes he has premature ejaculation problems and offers information on a wide range of issues such as the psychical and psychological causes of PE, the difference between lifelong PE (primary) and acquired PE (secondary), in addition to some of the common myths and truths about PE.

For instance, a misconception some people hold is that PE is not a genuine medical condition. As Firing Too Quickly correctly point out, this is a myth and is even acknowledged by the World Health Organization as being a genuine health problem. PE can leave the male suffering from anxiety, stress, depression, embarrassment and anger.

Ultimately, both partners will suffer. The man may find it difficult to relax enough to enjoy sex resulting in a lack of intimacy and frustration for both the man and woman. If left untreated, PE can place serious strain on the relationship.

Treatment options can be obtained today from Medical Specialists™ Pharmacy and include over the counter products such as Stud 100 spray and/or the prescription-only medication Priligy – the latter works to prolong a man’s sexual performance by an average of 200% to 300%.

Premature ejaculation can be improved with pelvic floor exercises

Pelvic floor exercises are normally suggested to women who are pregnant, or planning to get pregnant.  Such exercises can strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and lessen the risk of the woman experiencing urinary incontinence and reduced sensitivity during sex following the birth of their child. Strong pelvic floor muscles will result in increased sensitivity during sex and stronger orgasms as well.

However, new research has suggested that pelvic floor exercises can also help men – in particular those who are suffering from premature ejaculation problems.

Study data from Sapienza University of Rome was presented at the European Congress of Urology in Stockholm earlier this week, demonstrating how pelvic floor exercises can be effective in delaying ejaculation for men. This showed for the very first time that these exercises are beneficial for men who have suffered with premature ejaculation on a long-term basis.

The research, led by Dr. Antonio Pastore, looked at 40 men aged between 19 and 46. The men all suffered with premature ejaculation but not not seen results from other types of therapy. For a period of 12 weeks, the men were trained to exercise their pelvic floor muscles and also asked to track their time-to-orgasm over this period.

The men’s average ejaculation time at the beginning of the study was measured at just 31.7 seconds, but at the end of the 12 week study period, this average ejaculation time jumped up to 146.2 seconds (two and a half minutes). This equates to an increase in excess of 400%.

In total, an impressive number of men benefited from the pelvic floor exercises, with 33 of the 40 men experiencing improvements to ejaculation time during the course of the study and only five did not see any significant improvement. Two men quit the study earlier than the rest, but had seen improvement prior to dropping out. Thirteen of those 33 carried on with the trial for a further six months and their improved ejaculation times were maintained.

One person’s perception of what constitutes premature ejaculation may differ to somebody else’s and some men may mistakenly assume they have the condition, but the International Society of Sexual Medicine defines premature ejaculation as “ejaculation within a minute.”

Some men’s premature ejaculation problems can be so severe that sex can prove near impossible, especially if he ejaculates before penetration. This can be hugely damaging for a man’s self-confidence, and frustrating for both partners especially if they are trying for a baby.

Health experts generally, and rightfully, see premature ejaculation as a genuine medical condition requiring treatment, which can be done through over the counter products such as Stud 100 spray and/or the prescription-only medication Priligy. The latter works to prolong a man’s sexual performance by an average of 200% to 300%.

How long do American men last for in the bedroom?

Men in New Mexico are able to lay claim to a surprising boast after new research suggests that on average, they last longer in the bedroom compared to those in all the other states across the United States.

An smartphone mobile app named Spreadsheets which tracks the ‘duration, thrusts, and decibel peak’ of a couple’s sexual rhythm, analysed the data from 10,000 of its users to assess just how long couples from different states in America were lasting for.

According to the Spreadsheets app website, the technology works by monitoring ‘user’s movement and audio levels through the accelerometer and microphone to provide statistical and visual analysis of their performance in bed’. Those using the app can unlock 30 ‘achievements’ – a points-based system where couples can set targets or challenges for themselves, such as earning ten points for early morning sex.

For those concerned about privacy, you might be relieved to learn that the app will not record or playback audio or video and all data is stored securely on a person’s mobile device and information will never be relayed, backed up, or synced to the internet, according to the Spreadsheets website.
New Mexico, a state located in the southwest and western regions  of the United States, topped the average intercourse time (excluding foreplay) with just over seven minutes, compared to a mere average time of 81 seconds in the state of Alaska.

The full list was as follows:

1. New Mexico (7:01)
2. West Virginia (5:38)
3. Idaho (5:11)
4. South Carolina (4:48)
5. Missouri (4:22)
6. Michigan (4:14)
7. Utah (3:55)
8. Oregon (3:51)
9. Nebraska (3:47)
10. Alabama (3:38)
11. Delaware (3:33)
12. Hawaii (3:28)
13. Wisconsin (3:22)
14. North Dakota (3:18)
15. Arizona (3:17)
16. Maryland (3:15)
17. Mississippi (3:10)
18. Rhode Island (3:09)
19. Connecticut (3:07)
20. Texas (3:06)
21. New Hampshire (3:04)
22. Wyoming (3:03)
23. New York (3:01)
24. Pennsylvania (2:58)
25. Maine (2:58)
26. Washington (2:51)
27. Iowa (2:50)
28. Illinois (2:49)
29. North Carolina (2:47)
30. Tennessee (2:46)
31. Kansas (2:38)
32. California (2:38)
33. Massachusetts (2:31)
34. Florida (2:29)
35. New Jersey (2:28)
36. Indiana (2:26)
37. Virginia (2:23)
38. Oklahoma (2:21)
39. Colorado (2:21)
40. Minnesota (2:19)
41. Ohio (2:18)
42. Louisiana (2:17)
43. Kentucky (2:14)
44. Arkansas (2:08)
45. District of Columbia (2:08)
46. Nevada (2:07)
47. Georgia (2:07)
48. Montana (2:03)
49. Vermont (1:48)
50. South Dakota (1:30)
51. Alaska (1:21)

Precisely how long sexual intercourse should last can vary from one couple to the next, i.e. what is satisfying for one couple may not be satisfactory for another. The 2009 study ‘Canadian and American Sex Therapists’ Perceptions of Normal and Abnormal Ejaculatory Latencies: How Long Should Intercourse Last?’, determined that sexual intercourse usually ranges from three to seven minutes on average and another study found the average time was five and a half minutes from the moment of penetration to ejaculation.

For a man to ejaculate prior to or within a minute of penetration, this is usually deemed to be a genuine medical condition requiring treatment through over the counter products such as Stud 100 spray and/or the prescription-only medication Priligy – the latter works to prolong a man’s sexual performance by an average of 200% to 300%.

As highlighted earlier, sometimes a man’s premature ejaculation problems are so severe that sex is a seemingly impossible task as he ejaculated before entering the vagina. This can be hugely damaging for a man’s self-confidence, and frustrating for both partners especially if they are trying for a baby.

Premature ejaculation campaign urges men to get treated

TV Doctor and star of ‘Embarrassing Bodies’ Dr Christian Jessen, yesterday launched a new premature ejaculation campaign in Ireland.

The ‘Take Control’ awareness campaign is aimed at tackling a condition which is still the most common type of sexual dysfunction in men, affecting around 1 in 5 Irish males.

The Irish Association of Sexual Medicine have voiced their concerns that many men are simply ignoring their symptoms, disregarding it as just ‘stress’, or are feeling to ashamed to discuss the problem, which should not be the case in the 21^st century and there are a whole range of premature ejaculation treatments out there for men.

Although opinions about what could be classified as ‘satisfactory sex’ can vary between couples, it should be worth noting that the NHS state that if you are regularly ejaculating prior to or within one minute of entering your partner’s vagina, this is usually regarded as a medical issue that should be treated.

Hopefully, with the new campaign which kicked off yesterday, more men will now feel open about the issue of premature ejaculation. There is also a Take Control website offering some myths and truths about premature ejaculation, advice on how to speak to your doctor about it, as well as real life stories from people who have also experienced premature ejaculation problems.

“PE is one of the last remaining sexual taboos and so many men who suffer from it find it embarrassing and difficult to talk about,” commented Dr Jessen at yesterday’s launch. “Leaving it unaddressed can have a very negative impact upon men’s confidence and their overall well-being, not to mention their relationships.”

Erectile dysfunction is one issue Medical Specialists Pharmacy are inundated with phone calls and emails about, with thousands of men seeking our help with the best impotence treatment for them, however premature ejaculation is an area that more men need to come forward about and get treated for. Following an online consultation with one of our doctors, men with the condition can buy Priligy, an oral medication that can prolong a man’s sexual performance by an average of 200% to 300%.

After all, recent research showed that an incredible 85% of Irish people believe it is an imperative thing to satisfy their partner sexually as it will boost the strength of the overall relationship, and this is one stat that is probably applicable to other countries around the globe, not just specific to Ireland.
Trish Murphy, a psychotherapist, has spoken to countless couples and helped them with the condition, witnessing herself how it can be detrimental to relationships.

She says: “The potential shame and embarrassment combined with anger and frustration for men and their partners can create a vicious cycle that compounds the problem and limits the chances of reclaiming lost intimacy. These psychosexual aspects underline the importance of sexual counseling and the treatment of the couple in finding solutions.”

Premature ejaculation a big problem for couples in China

It would be interesting to find out corresponding results for UK women after a recent online survey showed that incredibly there could be around 96% of women in China who are not satisfied with their sexual partners.

Typical points for complaint from the female respondents included the fact that sexual intercourse was not lasting long enough (under 15 minutes), or their male partner having a sexual health problem.

In fact, over a fifth (22%) of the women who completed the survey laim they have ended a relationship or even divorced their husband because of persistent premature ejaculation problems. Moreover, 21% of men have also ended relationships for similar reasons.

Premature ejaculation is, and should, be considered a genuine medical problem that still requires treatment like anything else and as such, there are options available for men with premature ejaculation. Priligy and Stud 100 spray are just two popular treatments.

The report, published on Sept. 25 by the International Society for Sexual Medicine in Beijing, states that over half of Chinese couples are unhappy with their sex lives.

Furthermore, 96% of women and 80% of men claim that they are not enjoying sexual intercourse for sustained periods.  In comparison to other countries in the Asia-Pacific region, the figures for China are actually higher, according to the report.

The study into sexual health or other such issues was conducted over the duration of six months and included 3,567 people spanning across nine countries and territories in the Asia-Pacific region, including: Australia, South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines.

However, it seems that on average, Chinese couples engage in sexual intercourse around nine times a month on average. This is higher than the overall average for the region of 7.7.

The old saying of ‘quality, not quantity’ could be true though and indeed the amount of times couples had sex was not found to be the primary factor in sexual well-being. Instead, libido, willingness to actually have sex, in addition to intimacy levels in the relationship, were discovered to be far more important.

Jiang Hui, a physician studying male reproductive medicine at Peking University Third Hospital says that a large proportion of his patients are concerned they are unable to satisfy their partners sexually and of these patients, over 80% suffer with premature ejaculation.

Jiang also says that a lot of patients mistakenly think that premature ejaculation is purely only down to psychological issues like pressure, stress and fatigue. He says this is the main reason that a lot of men in China do not seek any kind of treatment for premature ejaculation.