# Drug Companies Concoct, Then Cure, Disease **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 3, 2003, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-companies-concoct-then-cure-disease/146427 "2003-01-03T15:37:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![IzzyR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/2acd7d/32.png) [@IzzyR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IzzyR)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-companies-concoct-then-cure-disease/146427/1 "2003-01-03T15:37:12Z")
At least according to an article in the British Medical Journal. (See [Firms Deny Creating Female Sexual Disorder](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=573&ncid=573&e=3&u=/nm/20030103/od_nm/sex_dc), from Reuters). The companies deny it, as noted in the linked title. Interestingly, I saw this concept first in the Onion’s _Our Dumb Century_ calender (with regards to halitosis). Life imitates art. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-companies-concoct-then-cure-disease/146427/2 "2003-01-03T16:07:02Z")
How does viagra help a woman? She doesn’t have anything to get up? ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-companies-concoct-then-cure-disease/146427/3 "2003-01-03T16:13:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by World Eater \* > How does viagra help a woman? She doesn’t have anything to get up? Sure we do, it’s just a lot smaller. ---
**Author:** ![TaxGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@TaxGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TaxGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-companies-concoct-then-cure-disease/146427/4 "2003-01-03T16:16:29Z")
Well, IANAD, but in my understanding the clitoris DOES “get up” in much the same fashion as does the penis (especially when I turn on the web cam and parade around in my special undies). ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-companies-concoct-then-cure-disease/146427/5 "2003-01-03T16:16:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by World Eater \* > \*\*How does viagra help a woman? She doesn’t have anything to get up? \*\* Don’t remember if it was NPR or a cable channel-the drug helps to increase blood flow to the genitalia, and with a female, assists her ability to lubricate. Only an amateur gynecologist 😃 ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-companies-concoct-then-cure-disease/146427/6 "2003-01-03T16:26:20Z")
The last part shouldn’t be a question. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-companies-concoct-then-cure-disease/146427/7 "2003-01-03T16:46:22Z")
How is sexual performance affected if it doesn’t “get up”? ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-companies-concoct-then-cure-disease/146427/8 "2003-01-03T17:27:31Z")
If the clitoris doesn’t “get up”, then the woman doesn’t achieve an orgasm. Or at least not a clitoral orgasm. I’ve never experienced a G-spot orgasm, so I can’t say whether or not clitoral engorgement is necessary. **World Eater** , were you unaware that women have orgasms? ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-companies-concoct-then-cure-disease/146427/9 "2003-01-03T17:37:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lynn Bodoni \* > \*\*If the clitoris doesn’t “get up”, then the woman doesn’t achieve an orgasm. \*\* …So you’re saying that sexual performance ISN’T affected? [sub]All right, all right, I’m going to my closet now[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-companies-concoct-then-cure-disease/146427/10 "2003-01-03T17:40:30Z")
Well I don’t think they invented female sexual disorder. When it was invented the first time it used to be called “being frigid”. And while I guess it’s sort of progress to go from “Honey, you can’t have an orgasm 'cause you’re hopelessly frigid so just live with it” to “Honey you can’t have an orgasm because you have female sexual disfunction, so take this pill” but either way it probably boils down to “Honey, I just don’t feel like spending that time on foreplay”.😃 ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-companies-concoct-then-cure-disease/146427/11 "2003-01-03T18:17:10Z")
Hey! Better living through chemistry! I’d love to be shocked, horrified and appalled, unfortunately I can’t. Pharma is keeping a roof over my head by employing me right now. So I shan’t bite the hand that feeds me. It is rather convenient though, that 43% of women suffer from this mysterious dysfunction. [I recall that statistic from NPR, so it may not be the right number, but you get the gyst of it] ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-companies-concoct-then-cure-disease/146427/12 "2003-01-03T18:25:27Z")
All the viagra does for either sex is provide a boost for the physiology of intercourse and orgasm. If a woman’s sexual response is impaired because of physical discomfort due to inadequate lubrication, viagra theoretically could help. But this stuff is not a libido enhancer, nor does it automatically overcome all the psychological associations of sexual activity. It may prove a useful tool in the treatment of impaired sexual response, but it’ll still be one tool among many others, such as biofeedback, relaxation therapy, cognitive therapy, couples workshops, dilators, pessaries, french ticklers, and weekends in the bahamas. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-companies-concoct-then-cure-disease/146427/13 "2003-01-03T20:46:59Z")
> [@](#): > > It may prove a useful tool in the treatment of impaired sexual response, but it’ll still be one tool among many others, such as biofeedback, relaxation therapy, cognitive therapy, couples workshops, dilators, pessaries, french ticklers, and weekends in the bahamas. Let’s not forget Mudslides. I’ve always found that drinking a Mudslide helps me to…enjoy myself more. ---
**Author:** ![Gr8Kat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gr8kat/32/18668_2.png) [@Gr8Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gr8Kat)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-companies-concoct-then-cure-disease/146427/14 "2003-01-03T20:47:04Z")
> [@](#): > > It may prove a useful tool in the treatment of impaired sexual response, but it’ll still be one tool among many others, such as biofeedback, relaxation therapy, cognitive therapy, couples workshops, dilators, pessaries, french ticklers, and **weekends in the bahamas.** If only insurance covered that last one… ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-companies-concoct-then-cure-disease/146427/15 "2003-01-03T21:01:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gr8Kat \* > \*\*If only insurance covered that last one… \*\* Maybe **QtM** could write you a prescription? ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-companies-concoct-then-cure-disease/146427/16 "2003-01-03T22:14:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Qadgop the Mercotan \* > It may prove a useful tool in the treatment of impaired sexual response, but it’ll still be one tool among many others, such as biofeedback, relaxation therapy, cognitive therapy, couples workshops, dilators, pessaries, french ticklers, and weekends in the bahamas. Or Meg Ryan movies. Or outlet malls. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-companies-concoct-then-cure-disease/146427/17 "2003-01-03T22:33:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lynn Bodoni \* > \*\ ***World Eater** , were you unaware that women have orgasms? \*\* Luckily I’m well versed in that department, I guess I just wasn’t aware of the physiological things going on behind the scenes. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2003, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-companies-concoct-then-cure-disease/146427/18 "2003-01-04T02:06:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Qadgop the Mercotan \* > \*\*All the viagra does for either sex is provide a boost for the physiology of intercourse and orgasm. If a woman’s sexual response is impaired because of physical discomfort due to inadequate lubrication, viagra theoretically could help. But this stuff is not a libido enhancer, nor does it automatically overcome all the psychological associations of sexual activity. It may prove a useful tool in the treatment of impaired sexual response, but it’ll still be one tool among many others, such as biofeedback, relaxation therapy, cognitive therapy, couples workshops, dilators, pessaries, french ticklers, and weekends in the bahamas. \*\* [Or power tools.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=149304) :eek: ---
**Author:** ![IzzyR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/2acd7d/32.png) [@IzzyR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IzzyR)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-companies-concoct-then-cure-disease/146427/19 "2003-01-10T18:27:27Z")
[More jive](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=573&ncid=573&e=9&u=/nm/20030110/od_nm/health_definitions_dc) ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-companies-concoct-then-cure-disease/146427/20 "2003-01-10T18:49:54Z")
Don’t walk naked through you closet after taking Viagra. I came out the other side with 8 hangers and a robe hanging from my crotch. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-companies-concoct-then-cure-disease/146427.md?page=2)