A 28-year-old man who had never had an orgasm in his life finally managed to climax thanks to ‘Female Viagra’ after a series of other drugs failed.
US doctors who treated the patient, who was not named, said it showed the drug, called flibanserin, could potentially be used to treat such rare cases.
Being unable to climax during sex or masturbation is medically called anorgasm, and the persistent version of the condition the male patient had is thought to occur in only about one in 1,000 men.
However, experts suspect the rates are actually higher as some men will not seek help out of discomfort – and it may be a side effect of some medications.
Reacting to the case report, British experts said the results could warrant the start of a clinical trial using flibanserin to help men with rare but potentially ‘devastating’ anorgasmia.
A 28-year-old man who had never had an orgasm in his life finally managed to climax thanks to ‘Female Viagra’ after a variety of other drugs failed (stock image)
Anorgasmia is different from erectile dysfunction, as men suffering from the former can still have an erection, while the latter struggle to do so.
In this case, detailed in the journal “Sexual Medicine,” urologists from Baylor College of Medicine in Texas managed to successfully treat a 28-year-old heterosexual man who had never experienced an orgasm in his life.
Their patient had no medical reason for not reaching orgasm, reporting a good libido, no urinary problems, and no depression.
Analysis of his penis also found no physical dysfunction that would cause him problems with ejaculation.
Finally, a check of his medical history also revealed that he was not taking any medication that could weaken his ability to climax as a side effect, such as certain high blood pressure medications such as thiazide diuretics and methyldopa or antidepressants.
As such, doctors prescribed him two drugs, one to increase hormones and chemicals associated with arousal in the brain and another to increase blood flow to the genitals.
However, neither worked, and one even gave him ‘penile pain’ before doctors discontinued it.
He was also concurrently undergoing sex therapy to see if there was a mental health reason for his inability to reach orgasm.
But, despite nearly half a dozen sessions over three months, even this proved ineffective.
Doctors then tried to prescribe him a course of flibanserin, a drug commonly given to women experiencing low sex drive, and often referred to as ‘Female Viagra’ or ‘The Little Pink Pill’.
This was successful and after about 30 doses over four weeks, he achieved his first ever orgasm.
Flibanserin works in women by increasing levels of neurotransmitters in the brain associated with pleasure, while also reducing hormones associated with happiness and mood regulation.
Writing in the case report, the doctors said studies have shown that the parts of the brain responsible for orgasm are ‘similar’ in men and women and therefore flibanserin is likely to work in a similar way for their male patient.
US doctors who treated the patient, who was not named, said it showed the drug, called flibanserin and sold under the brand name Addyi, could be used to treat such rare cases.
They called for further studies to evaluate the efficacy and safety of flibanserin, sold under the brand name Addyi, in men with anorgasm.
While it is available for women in the US, flibanserin has not been approved for use in Britain because officials here decide the side effects are not worth the benefits.
Commonly reported side effects of taking flibanserin include dizziness, fainting, drowsiness, nausea, fatigue.
The male patient reported suffering significant side effects while using the drug, including insomnia, drowsiness and a ‘depressed and aggressive mood’.
However, he decided the side effects were worth it for now and told doctors he would continue to take the intervention on a ‘trial’ basis.
Reacting to the study, Professor Roger Kirby, a urologist and president of the Royal College of Physicians, said currently male anorgasm was challenging to treat.
“Anorgasmia is quite uncommon in men, but it can happen and it can be very devastating sexually and psychologically,” he said.
“There is currently no evidence-based treatment for it.”
He added that a clinical trial looking at the effect of flibanserin for up to 12 months in men might now be a ‘good idea’ because ‘at the moment, there’s not much we can do’ for patients.
“We need a good evidence base and we need safety checks before we advocate them,” he said.
Professor Kirby encouraged any man suffering from persistent sexual dysfunction to seek help from a medical professional and not suffer in silence.
While it’s called ‘female Viagra’, flibanserin has a number of notable differences compared to the little blue pill, which is now available over the counter.
First, it works in a different mechanism to Viagra, also known by its generic name sildenafil, by increasing blood flow to the male genitals helping them maintain an erection, rather than stimulating sexual arousal itself.
Second, sildenafil is taken on an “as needed” basis before intercourse, whereas flibanserin patients must take the drug every day for it to work.
The doctors who wrote the case report also noted how their patient demonstrated a lack of specific treatment options for men suffering from the condition without an apparent cause.
They said most cases of anorgasmia are usually caused by a side effect of another medication, meaning most patients can be treated by changing or adjusting the drugs or dosage to avoid the unwanted side effect.