Healthy Skepticism Library item: 3809

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Publication type: Journal Article

Moynihan R.
The making of a disease: female sexual dysfunction.
BMJ 2003 Jan 4; 326:(7379):45-7
http://www.pubmedcentral.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pubmed&pubmedid=12511464

Abstract:

Summary points: Researchers with close ties to drug companies are defining and classifying a new medical disorder at company sponsored meetings. The corporate sponsored definitions of “female sexual dysfunction” are being criticised as misleading and potentially dangerous. Commonly cited prevalence estimates, which indicate that 43% of women have “female sexual dysfunction,” are described as exaggerated and are being questioned by leading researchers. Controversy surrounds current attempts to medicalise sexual problems and establish “normative data” for a range of physiological measurements of female sexual response. The role of drug companies in the construction of new conditions, disorders, and diseases needs more public scrutiny.

Keywords:
Attitude to Health Consensus Development Conferences Drug Industry* Female Health Status Humans Research Support* Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological/classification* Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological/diagnosis Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological/drug therapy Women's Health