Sex drugs take advantage of disillusioned couple, prof says

The pharmaceutical industry capitalizes on sexuality, one of the most
prevalent social drives in adults, a Boston University professor said
Monday at the George Sherman Union.
Teri Aronowitz, an adjunct clinical assistant professor in the Sargent
College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, detailed the role
pharmaceutical companies play in the perpetuation of sexual insecurity
to about 10 students in a lecture titled “Pillow Talk: The Business of
Sex.”
Aronowitz began her lecture with a clip from the documentary “Orgasm
Inc.,” which documents the proliferation of drugs that increase sexual
arousal and stimulation, and explains how the market has created
massive competition among different companies to solve a problem whose
existence the film challenges.
Though male sexual arousal can be measured, female arousal is a far
more complicated concept because there is no definitive way to tell if
drugs are effective, according to the film.
Aronowitz said that most of the disorders attributed to a lack of
sexual satisfaction are exaggerated so companies can put drugs on the
market to solve the problem.
“We can change the name, give it a pill and people expect a quick fix
for it,” Aronowitz said.
She said many problems that cause female sexual dissatisfaction stem
from natural and fluctuating aspects of daily life.
Whether it is a stressful work environment or communication problems
with a spouse, everyday worries can cause massive changes in sexual
drive.
“If you ask any woman about her sexual satisfaction over the course of
her lifetime, it ebbs and flows due to the circumstances of life,”
Aronowitz said.
Society’s desire for over-the-counter happiness causes people to seek
a simple solution for such problems, Aronowitz said.
“We try so hard to be perfect nowadays that we just try to find
problems, and it’s really sad,” said Giovanna Sepulveda, a SAR senior
and a student health ambassador.
Aronowitz said the pursuit of sexual perfection could result in some
dangerous and morally questionable measures.
Labiaplasty, a plastic surgery that gives the vagina a more youthful
appearance, could be likened to female genital mutilation, a
hot-button human rights issue around the world.
Sexual satisfaction was something that needs to be worked out between
partners, Aronowitz said.
The constant hawking of products to increase pleasure has convinced
many that their problems can only be solved medically, even though
solutions could be found without medicine.
“I found it very interesting how she brought up the idea that
pharmaceutical companies use advertising to take advantage of people’s
lack of communication,” said Shaman Kothari, a freshman in the College
of Engineering.
Aronowitz concluded her talk by saying that the best thing people can
do for their sex lives is to stop striving for perfection.
“After all, it’s not what you’ve got, it’s how you use it.”