Sex On The Brain

Those scientists are just too clever by half.

First they determine that 90% of middle-aged women suffer from a new condition called sexual dysfunction. (I am no scientist, but if almost the entire population is affected, perhaps it is not a medical condition at all — just normal).

Naming this condition is useful because it allows pharmaceutical companies to make money off the 9 in 10 women that they can convince to get treatment.

But when they start testing they realise that placebos significantly increase these women’s sex drive. A new study concludes: “A substantial number of women experienced clinically significant improvement in sexual function during treatment with placebo.”

This should be no surprise because the brain has always been the sexiest of organs. It is the steam-engine of desire and once it gets going there is no stopping it, but the other side of that is if the brain isn’t engaged, the other equipment won’t work so well.

A study published last year found that “treatment of ED with oral placebo capsules demonstrates clinical effects, improving erectile function and quality of erection.”

So if the problem lies in the brain, why continue to treat the body?

My worry is that these campaigns to make people aware of sexual dysfunction might convince people with an average sex drive that they have a problem. As soon as they classify themselves as sexually dysfunctional, their once normal sexual appetite will begin to plummet, and suddenly they will have a problem where none existed.

This brilliant marketing model is also a terrible trick.

There are people who actually suffer from sexual dysfunction and they should have access to all the help they want. However, the organ to fix seems to be their brains. A low sexual appetite is usually a symptom of depression, poor health or relationship problems. If this is the case, a sex therapist could probably diagnose the problem and help cure it.

The best place to start is discovering what turns you on and letting your partner know.

Not sure? Well, finding out is half the fun!