In a recent interview, Dr. Somi Javaid, a board-certified OB-GYN specializing in menopause and sexual health, shed light on the gender gap in sexual health awareness and treatment.
Dr. Javaid pointed out that women’s sexual health has often been ignored in medicine. Historically, women have been viewed mainly as tools for male pleasure or as mothers. Even though sexual health is essential for overall well-being—and is recognized as a basic human right by the World Health Organization—women face many barriers. Issues like a lack of education, limited access to data, insufficient female leadership, and inadequate funding have all contributed to this gap in healthcare.
Moreover, the medical community’s dismissive attitude toward women’s health leads to further neglect of their concerns. This is puzzling, especially when effective treatments exist for various non-life-threatening conditions.
Dr. Javaid also discussed the limited options for women when it comes to sexual health treatments. There are currently 29 FDA-approved medications for men, but only 2 for women. The costs are often high, and regulatory hurdles for treatments aimed at women are more stringent. As a result, many women don’t realize that issues like low sexual desire can be linked to treatable conditions, such as hypoactive sexual desire disorder.
Even with treatments available, insurance coverage is often biased. Male conditions receive more support, meaning treatments like Viagra are widely covered, while female options like Addyi face challenges due to lack of awareness and strict coverage policies.
Dr. Javaid shared an eye-opening example: a woman with sexual pain was denied insurance coverage for a prescribed treatment, while her husband’s Viagra was fully covered. The insurer labeled her treatment as “elective,” highlighting a troubling bias. This situation illustrates the pressing need for better education, awareness, policy reform, and a comprehensive approach to ensure women receive fair sexual health care.
This video is part 1 of a 3-part series. Stay tuned for part 2.
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disparities,sexual health,treatment,awareness,insurance,coverage
