Issues Management Moment: Sex and the Pill
The New York Post reports today on a new study in the January issue of The Journal of Sexual Medicine. According to the Post, the report is pretty controversial because it suggests that “30 - 40 percent of women on birth control pills have decreased libido.” WOW!
The Post also reports that a “growing number” of New York women are going off of the pill. The reasons they provide vary from wishing to go more “organic” to those who are uncomfortable putting hormones in their body.
Now I’m not sure what kind of impact the Journal of Sexual Medicine’s report is going to have on birth control pill sales, but it might be a cause for concern for those responsible for communcating about these products. The growing furvor over birth control pills is a perfect example of the type of issue — if left unchecked — can grow beyond anyone’s ability to manage it.
I wonder if we’ll start to see a counter-offensive by makers of birth control pills seeking to reassure women about the benefits and side effects of birth control pills. It would be powerful indeed if someone released data from Phase III studies that evaluated birth control pills and asked women about their sexual desire. Better yet, what if a pill existed that was proven to actually have a beneficial effect on libido?
It will be interesting to see whether and how drug makers respond to this issue.
