Last week The Journal of Sexual Medicine published a study that focused on 50 women who were diagnosed with female sexual arousal disorder. They were all given a placebo instead of Tadalafil, a drug once used to treat erectile dysfunction. The study found that all of the women saw an increase of pleasure while under the impression that they were taking medicine to improve their sex life.
This is a clear example of how strongly drugs and being medicated have come to affect our lives. But at the same time, it’s also an interesting approach of mind over matter.
The placebo response shows how, with a push in the right direction, a lot of so-called problems can easily be fixed without any real medication. All of the women were willing to put in the effort to tweak their lifestyles a little and try different things, like engaging in more sex.
Nevertheless, what the placebo represents is vital. The study suggests that taking steps towards treatment can often generate the body’s own natural healing powers. Instead of a pill, an intense desire for change in the human body can trigger pleasure in many different ways.
Sex is not merely physical for women; it is mental. Often that factor seems ignored. It is generally understood that sex for men is much less complex. Women tend to require additional attention to reach a substantial sense of sexual satisfaction.
The media also frequently takes the female sexual experience to a ridiculous supra-sexy level that many women cannot reach. This can produce a feeling of inadequacy for women. Outside pressure for women is probably a strong equal for men, but it’s definitely less acknowledged. Magazines like Cosmopolitan still seem solely concerned with the “Top 10 ways to please your man,” instead of the “Top 10 ways to help yourself.”
Often people merely attribute the lack of pleasure or satisfaction that many women feel during sex to the fact that women think too much instead of anything more significant. The placebo suggests that there is not necessarily anything wrong or that needs to be fixed with a woman who experiences low levels of arousal. Instead, it shows how important the mind is in relation to the female and her body.
The study demonstrates a basic principle of life. If you want change, you have to act — and then you can start to see results. There is not always a need for medicine. Sometimes the desire to get what you want is strong enough to produce results without faking it.
Camilla Cossio is a creative writing sophomore and may be reached at [email protected].
