Brave New World

Apparently a patch designed to boost women’s libido will be available on prescription from this week. Intrinsa (a sort of Viagra for women) releases testosterone into the bloodstream through the skin, and stimulates thoughts about sex. Hmmmmm. I read this news with raised eyebrow and hollow laugh. Doubtless, the drug companies are rubbing their hands (or other appendages) with glee. As someone teetering on the edge of the menopause, I need to be careful with my criticisms, but it does seem to me that this is somehow missing the point. Surely one’s ‘libido’ is an urge – an itch that needs to be scratched? There can’t be that many women who would want to add thoughts about sex to their daily mental ticker tape? Isn’t it rather crowded there already? Maybe its me who is missing the point – Intrinsa is really aimed at men, especially the sweaty-palmed type who need to bribe or drug women to sleep with them. Doubtless, they will soon be able to order it on line, along with their Viagra and Rohypnol. The days of Aldous Huxley’s ‘sex-hormone chewing gum’ are upon us.