While Egyptian men may have Viagra for ED, flibanserin’s efficacy for women is questionable. Yet the drug has become popular as leaders in the country try to reduce rates of divorce.

The BBC reports that Egypt is the first Arab nation to approve the manufacturing and sale of flibanserin, or the “female Viagra” pill. While Viagra is a popular drug for combating male erectile dysfunction (ED), in fact, flibanserin, which is sold in the U.S. under the trade name Addyi, is not nearly as popular.

But divorce rates in Egypt are rising, and the local media is attributing these trends to a lack of sexual drive in women and sexual incompatibility between partners. But most couples are not aware of some of the side effects of this medication.

Is the sale of flibanserin, like Viagra for ED, a welcome sign of sexual revolution in traditionally conservative Egypt? Or, is the drug an ironic and cruel twist in a culture where 87.2% of all women aged 15 to 49 undergo some form of female circumcision? Is flibanserin available in the U.S. and safe enough for women to consume?

Viagra for Women

Today, you can buy flibanserin in Egypt over-the-counter without a prescription. While the drug has been hailed as the new Viagra for women, in fact, the BBC reports serious side effects including dangerously low blood pressure.

While Viagra for Egyptian men suffering from ED is common, flibanserin is a relatively new medication that works as an anti-depressant, boosting sexual desire by seeking to balance brain chemicals in the human body.

Company representatives say the drug is a “revolution” in Socially Conservative Egypt. Yet it’s a lot of hope for to place on the drug in a country where many females undergo a form of circumcision, which can interfere with sexual pleasure.

The New Arab calls this a “bizarre bid to tackle high divorce rate.” They say the drug was approved for release after a study showed that the biggest cause for divorce in Egypt is the lack of intimate relations between spouses. The article said, “Many Egyptian women suffer from a lack of orgasms because of circumcision.” Egypt remains the country with the highest rate of these surgeries in the world.

Called “female genital mutilation” or FMG, the process requires the full or partial removal of a woman’s sex organs, making her incapable of experiencing sexual pleasure.

Closer to home, Addyi has become available via telemedicine in the United States, at a lower price than the original $800 per month in an attempt to increase demand for the drug. But The Hastings Center suggests that Addyi, or female Viagra, did not receive FDA approval until the manufacturer set “up a fake consumer advocacy campaign” that forced the federal agency to approve the drug.

But Addyi has not sold well here in the United States, and the drug manufacturer continues to slash prices in the hopes it will take off. However, The Hastings Center suggests that Addyi is potentially dangerous, unlike real Viagra for ED, causing drastic drops in blood pressure and prolonged unconsciousness that could require medical intervention.

So, while Egyptians appear to be attempting to popularize female Viagra, and while U.S. marketers attempt to push the medication, it is unlikely at this time that flibanserin will reach the popularity levels of Viagra for erectile dysfunction.