FDA advisory panel rejects Flibanserin

By Dr Petra | Published: 21 June, 2010
Last Friday drug company Boehringer Ingelheim presented evidence to the FDA's advisory panel on their drug Flibanserin. This product, designed to tackle Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) in women had already been given plenty of media coverage focusing on 'Pink Viagra', and raised concern from scientists, healthcare staff, therapists and activists. You can see a summary of the case up until the hearing here. Meanwhile… Read more
Posted in Activism and Open Access, Commercialisation, Female Sexual Dysfunction, Flibanserin | Comments closed

FDA Committee hearing on Flibanserin tomorrow (18 June) – how you can keep up with the meeting

By Dr Petra | Published: 17 June, 2010
Tomorrow sees the FDA Committee Hearing on Flibanserin, the drug created by Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) to address 'hypoactive sexual desire disorder in women'. In advance of the meeting you can see the hearing's list of materials here, BI's submission of their research on Flibanserin to the FDA here, and my summary of the story/science of this case to date here. For the past few… Read more
Posted in Activism and Open Access, Medicalisation, Research, Sexual dysfunction | Comments closed

Your chance to help this Men’s Health Week – challenge the Advanced Medical Institute

By Dr Petra | Published: 16 June, 2010
AMI advert billboard June 14 to 20th is Men's Health week, with numerous practitioners, charities and healthcare organisations hosting events and conciousness raising activities. One area that probably won't be falling under any of the public campaigns for Men's Health Week - but ought to be a priority for us to tackle - is taking on the organisation known as the Advanced Medical Institute. You may remember… Read more
Posted in Activism and Open Access, Drug/alcohol, Erectile Dysfunction, Ethics, Premature Ejaculation | Comments closed

Is low sexual desire in women a disease? No it’s not. But drug company are seeking FDA approval for a drug to ‘cure’ women nonetheless

By Dr Petra | Published: 1 June, 2010
On June 18th pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim will be seeking approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for their drug Flibanserin (which may be traded under the names of Ectris and/or Girosa). This is an antidepressant style drug which Boehringer Ingelheim claim is a treatment for low/lack of sexual desire in women (aka Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder or HSDD). It must be taken every day and for… Read more
Posted in Activism and Open Access, Female Sexual Dysfunction, Flibanserin, Intrinsa, Medicalisation | Comments closed

Live Masturbate-a-thon this Sunday in SF!

By Dr Petra | Published: 27 May, 2010
3 masturbate-a-thon posters 2010s Live Masturbate-a-thon is taking place this Sunday, May 30th in San Francisco. From the event organisers... The Center for Sex & Culture, originator of the live Masturbate-a-Thon, will hold its 10th annual fundraising and consciousness-raising event showcasing solo sexuality on May 30, 2010 at its 1519 Mission Street suites. They thank Tube8 for its kind sponsorship of this year's benefit. Hosting the event… Read more
Posted in Activism and Open Access, Masturbation | Comments closed

Controversial advert for abortion services to be screened on UK TV tonight

By Dr Petra | Published: 24 May, 2010
brook advert Tonight the UK will see the first television advert for abortion services. Shown at 10.10pm on Channel 4 the advert for Marie Stopes will highlight for viewers where to get help and advice about pregnancy. The advert has already been opposed by charity Life and will not be shown in Northern Ireland (where termination of pregnancy is… Read more
Posted in Abortion/TOP, Television | Comments closed

Now the election is out of the way, what’s happening to UK sex education?

By Dr Petra | Published: 20 May, 2010
We are now settling into a new government and the Conservative/Lib Dem coalition has led to a number of questions being asked about sex education. Specifically people are wanting to know what is the fate of school based sex and relationships education in the UK. Currently there is no provision for statutory sex education in the UK. This is due to pressure from the… Read more
Posted in Politics, Sex education | Comments closed

‘Cut your ex’s face, and then no one will want her’

By Dr Petra | Published: 5 May, 2010
This was the advice given by celebrity Danny Dyer in his ‘Ask Danny’ column in the latest ZOO magazine and found by Sarah Ditum who shared it on Twitter (see #dyerzoo). The full letter and reply is as follows: ASK DANNY! I’m 23, not a bad-looking bloke with a decent job, but I broke up with my missus a few months ago and can’t get over her… Read more
Posted in Magazines, Violence/Abuse | Comments closed

Sorry but I can’t vote Labour – A letter to my grandparents

By Dr Petra | Published: 4 May, 2010
Dear Gran and Granddad I’ve something to tell you. I won’t be voting Labour at the coming election. I know you will be disappointed. I know socialism was core to both your lives. The work you did organising and running youth groups and later an older people’s centre was just two of the ways you put those values into practice. I’ve always done my best to live by your motto… Read more
Posted in Politics | Comments closed

“Sex, fertility and commitment: what men really think”: Times Weekend fails to fully explore psychosexual problems and infertility

By Dr Petra | Published: 1 May, 2010
Today’s Times Weekend focuses on an important yet taboo issue - Infertility. ‘Sex, fertility and commitment: what men really think’ includes in depth interviews with several men about the topic. While it’s right to talk about this issue from a male perspective, there are messages within the feature that are worrying in relation to sex, orgasm, fertility and gender. Not least because the issue… Read more
Posted in (In)fertility, Erectile Dysfunction, Female Sexual Dysfunction, Orgasm | Comments closed