K-Y Intrigue
Scientific Evidence: Proved
How To Get It: Most Drug Stores
K-Y's newest product is a waterproof lubricant meant for foreplay. Made of a liquid polymer, Intrigue is intended to be long-lasting, meaning it can be applied hours before sex and that couples don't have to stop to reapply it. It's also been approved by the FDA for use with condoms.
Pills
Scientific Evidence: Well Proved
How To Get Them: See A Doctor
In 1998, Pfizer introduced the little blue pill, Viagra, and launched a cultural revolution. The upshot of the jokes by late-night comedians, revelations from Bob Dole and one of the most successful drug product launches ever, was that erectile dysfunction was seen as a treatable medical illness. Rival pills Cialis--an Eli Lilly drug that lasts all weekend--and Levitra from Bayer have joined the party recently. Patients need to remember, though, that when these pills stop working, it's often a sign of a worsening health problem.
Testosterone Gel
Scientific Evidence: Experimental
How To Get It: Enter A Clinical Trial
Testosterone gels and patches have shown promise as treatments for female sexual dysfunction--defined as low libido or inability to achieve orgasm. Midstage studies of BioSante Pharmaceuticals' LibiGel, applied daily to the upper arm, tripled the number of satisfying events. But a testosterone patch already came up short at the Food and Drug Administration; BioSante plans to submit a new drug application by 2009.
See A Sex Therapist
Scientific Evidence: Proved
How To Get It: Visit aasect.org
If you're having sexual difficulties, schedule a one-time consultation, says psychologist and sex therapist Joy Davidson. "By the time most people come in, in many cases the problem could have been addressed 10 years earlier," she says. The American Association of Sexuality Educators Counselors and Therapists can help you find a local professional.
A Nose Spray
Scientific Evidence: Experimental
How To Get It: Enter A Clinical Trial
Palatin Pharmaceuticals is testing use of a nasal spray for male and female sexual dysfunction. A drug called bremelanotide acts through the central nervous system to increase blood flow in the penile or vaginal tissue, applied 10 to 15 minutes prior to sex. Approval for men could come by 2009; for women, it could take until 2011.
Muse
Scientific Evidence: Proved
How To Get It: See Your Doctor
Available since 1997 from Vivus, Muse is one of a handful of products that uses alprostadil to increase blood flow to the penis, facilitating an erection. Muse works via insertion into the urethra, says CFO Tim Morris. Used 15 minutes prior to sex, it lasts for 30 minutes and is popular with men for whom oral medications such as Viagra fail. Caverject, another version of alprostadil, is given as an injection.
Pumps
Scientific Evidence: Proved
How To Get It: See Your Doctor
Pump devices have been used for male erectile dysfunction for years. NuGyn's Eros Therapy is an FDA-approved device for women who have arousal or orgasmic disorders. It uses a vacuum to improve sexual response by increasing blood flow to the clitoris and should be used three to four times a week, according to the company. The device was tested in clinical trials of some 50 people, providing some evidence of its effectiveness.
Spray-On Condom
Scientific Evidence: Not Proved
How To Get It: Wait
The Institute for Condom Consultancy, a German group that offers advice on contraception, plans to launch a spray-on condom next year in Germany. In theory, this could reduce the chance of slippage because it ensures a perfect fit. The device, which may provide up to 20 applications, sprays a coating of liquid latex. (It doesn't stick.) The Institute's Jan Vinzenz Krause estimates the product could make it to the U.S. market in three years.
Drug-Coated Condom
Scientific Evidence: Not Proved
How To Get It: Wait For Commercial Availability
Futura Medical is developing a condom that it says is coated with an angina drug that promotes erection. A second condom, with the drug on the outside, would be marketed to women with sexual dysfunction. The company says it has submitted the male version for approval in the European Union; plans for the U.S. are not yet set. Futura is a tiny company, based in Surrey, England. It trades on the London Stock Exchange with a market value of $65 million; long-term safety testing of the combo seems limited, but the drug has been in use for heart problems for decades.
