The making of a disease: female sexual dysfunction

doi:10.1136/bmj.326.7379.45

BMJ 2003;326:45-47 ( 4 January )

Education and debate

The making of a disease: female sexual dysfunction

Ray Moynihan, journalist.

Australian Financial Review, GPO Box 506, Sydney 2201, NSW, Australia

Correspondence to: R Moynihan, 4/1312 21st Street NW, Washington, DC, 20036, USA raymond.moynihan@verizon.net

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Is a new disorder being identified to meet unmet needs or to build markets for new medications?

The corporate sponsored creation of a disease is not a new phenomenon,¹ but the making of female sexual dysfunction isthe freshest, clearest example we have. A cohort of researcherswith close ties to drug companies are working with colleaguesin the pharmaceutical industry to develop and define a new categoryof human illness at meetings heavily sponsored by companies racingto develop new drugs. The most recent gathering, featured Pfizeras chief sponsor and Pfizer-friendly researchers as chief speakers.The venue? The Pfizer Foundation Hall for Humanism in Medicineat New York University MedicalSchool.

Since the launch of sildenafil (Viagra) in 1998, more than 17 million men have had prescriptions written for it as a treatmentfor erectile dysfunction, with Pfizer reporting sales in 2001of $1.5bn.² The emerging competitors, Bayer's vardenafil and. . . [Full text of this article]

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Rapid Responses:

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Imagined diseases: George Dodds
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Enhancing Relationships is a Joke.: Carol A Teasdale
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Women's sexual problems deserve our care and attention: John D Dean
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MYTH OF FEMALE SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION: JENNIFER E. DREW
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All in their pretty little heads....: Carla G Dionne
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Gred for profits guide misdirected symposiums: claire e hass, et al.
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Sexual dysfunction cannot exist without sexual function - female trait or threat to the male: Bjorn Lundquist, et al.
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Re: Enhancing Relationships is a Joke.: Edna M Astbury-Ward
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Social Construction of Disease: Aldo Mussi
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FSF or FSD - trait or threat?: Bjorn Lundquist, et al.
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Conspiracy of Silence: pauline lewis
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Drug deregulation and democracy: Bruce G Charlton
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Thank you, Ray Moynihan: Judy Norsigian
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Female Sexual Desire- the silent epidemic: David Goldmeier
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It's About Time: Lillian R. Arleque, Ed.D.
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FSD exists.: Anonymous Person
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Re: Re: Enhancing Relationships is a Joke.: Carol A Teasdale
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Pills not the answer for lack of desire: Lucy M. Candib, M.D.
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The Art of the Culpable: Martin D. Talbot
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A Cure Awaiting a Disease: Jules S Black
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see nofreelunch.org: des spence
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context agnosia: need for treatment: Richard Rabkin
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Dry Data - must try harder: Valerie James, et al.
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Ethnocentrism in Current Medical Models of FSD: Patricia E Whelehan
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Another opportunity: Gurli Bagnall
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A dysfunction of our own?: Stevi Jackson
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A Much Needed Debate: Marj Thoburn
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Female sexual dysfunction exists.: Dr. Alfredo Belzuzarri
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43%: Adam Jacobs
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Berman Book: Carla G Dionne
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Re: 43%: Peter Morrell
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is this what we wnat?: Vera S. Cohen
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43% - and not mistaken: Peter Morrell
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Re: Re: Re: Re: 43%: L Martinez
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Re: What, Exactly, Is the Problem?: Carla G Dionne
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Amazing disgrace: Bjorn Lundquist
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Re: Amazing disgrace: Andy Miah
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Re: Re: Amazing disgrace: Bjorn Lundquist
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Investing in spin doctors: Girard Marc
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Respecting diversity: Annie Potts
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Illness or Disease?: William G Anderson
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Re: FSD exists.: summer rox
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