Women who took an antidepressant drug during trials found it to have libido boosting side effects, further research into the effects found that women who took a 100mg dose of the drug found themselves having more satisfying sex more often compared to those who took the placebo pill, almost 2000 pre-menopausal women aged 18 and above who had been diagnosed with a condition called “hypoactive sexual desire disorder” which is characterised by a very low libido for long periods of time took part, none of the women knew which pills they were taking.

Professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of North Carolina Medical School, John Thorp said “It’s essentially a Viagra-like drug for women in that diminished desire or libido is the most common feminine sexual problem, like erectile dysfunction in men.” Doctors who are involved in the study have said between 9% and 26% of women have been estimated to be suffering from the problem and that the drug may prove an effective treatment.

The drug called flibanserin could be approved for use in Britain within the next 18 months, however some sex researchers argue that the pill will not deal with the psychological issues that women can suffer from. Viagra was developed from a drug originally tested as a possible treatment for high blood pressure and angina however as with the drug flibanserin, during clinical trials it too was found to have sexual side affects.