John Ely, Deputy Health Editor, Mailonline
Updated on July 15, 2024 at 17:32 and July 15, 2024 at 17:49
A 28-year-old man who had never orgasmed in his life was finally able to do so thanks to “female Viagra” after numerous other drugs had failed.
US doctors who treated the patient, who has not been named, said their findings showed the drug, called flibanserin, could be used to treat such rare cases.
The inability to reach orgasm during sex or masturbation is medically known as anorgasmia, and the persistent form of the condition the male patient suffered from is thought to occur in only around one in 1,000 men.
But experts believe the actual rate is higher because some men may be too embarrassed to seek help, and it could also be a side effect of some medications.
Responding to the case report, British experts said the results could provide a basis for launching clinical trials of flibanserin to help men with the rare but potentially “devastating” anorgasmia.
Anorgasmia differs from erectile dysfunction in that men with the former can get and keep an erection while those with the latter have a hard time maintaining one.
In this case, the journal provides details. Sexual MedicineUrologist at Baylor College of Medicine Texas Successfully treated a 28-year-old heterosexual man who had never experienced an orgasm in his life.
Their patients reported no medical reasons why they couldn’t orgasm, good libido, no urinary problems, and no depression.
An analysis of his penis also found no physical dysfunction that would cause ejaculation problems.
Finally, a review of his medical history revealed that he was not taking any medications that could have a side effect of impairing his ability to achieve orgasm, such as thiazide diuretics, high blood pressure medications such as methyldopa, or antidepressants.
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So his doctors prescribed him two drugs: one to increase hormones and chemicals involved in arousal in the brain, and another to increase blood flow to his genitals.
But neither worked, and one of the drugs caused him “penile pain” until his doctor stopped taking them.
He was also undergoing sex therapy to see if his inability to orgasm was due to psychological issues.
But this too proved ineffective, despite nearly six sessions over a three-month period.
Doctors then tried prescribing him flibanserin, a drug commonly given to women who suffer from low libido and often referred to colloquially as “female Viagra” or the “little pink pill.”
This was successful and after about 30 doses over a four week period, he achieved his first orgasm of his life.
Flibanserin works by increasing levels of pleasure-related neurotransmitters in the brain in women, while simultaneously decreasing hormones involved in happiness and mood regulation.
In their case report, the doctors said studies have shown that the parts of the brain that control orgasm are “similar” in men and women, so flibanserin likely had the same effect on the male patients.
They called for further studies to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of flibanserin, sold under the brand name Addyi, in men with anorgasmia.
Although it is marketed to women in the United States, flibanserin is not approved for use in the UK because regulators determined the side effects were not worth the benefits.
Commonly reported side effects of taking flibanserin include dizziness, fainting, drowsiness, nausea, and fatigue.
The male patient reported experiencing significant side effects while taking the drug, including insomnia, drowsiness, and “depressed and aggressive moods.”
But he decided the side effects were worth it for now and told his doctors he would continue taking the medication “on a trial basis.”
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Responding to the study, Professor Roger Kirby, urologist and president of the Royal College of Physicians, said that currently anorgasmia in men is difficult to treat.
“Anorgasmia in men is very rare, but it can happen and it can be very devastating both sexually and psychologically,” he said.
“Currently, there is no evidence-based treatment.”
He added that conducting clinical trials to test the effects of flibanserin in men for up to 12 months might be a “good idea” because “at this point there’s not much we can do for patients.”
“We need solid evidence and safety checks before we endorse these,” he said.
Professor Kirby encouraged men with persistent sexual dysfunction to seek help from a medical professional rather than suffering in silence.
Flibanserin, also known as the “female Viagra,” has some notable differences compared to the little blue pill that’s readily available over the counter today.
First, its mechanism is different from that of Viagra (also known by the generic name sildenafil) in that it does not increase sexual arousal itself, but rather increases blood flow to the male organ and helps maintain an erection.
Secondly, sildenafil is taken “as needed” before sexual activity, whereas patients taking flibanserin must take the drug daily to be effective.
The doctors who wrote the case report also highlighted the lack of concrete treatment options available to patients, particularly for men who suffer from the condition without any apparent cause.
According to the researchers, most cases of anorgasmia are usually caused by side effects of other medications, so most patients can be treated by changing or adjusting their medication or dosage to avoid unwanted side effects.
