Flibanserin: What It Really Does for Low Sexual Desire in Women

Flibanserin doesn’t treat infertility. That’s the first thing you need to know.

If you clicked on this article hoping to find a miracle drug for getting pregnant, you’re not alone. Many women struggling to conceive have been told by well-meaning friends, online forums, or even doctors that low libido might be part of the problem. So when they hear about flibanserin - a pill marketed as a ‘female Viagra’ - they assume it’s a fix for fertility too. But that’s not what it does. And mixing up these issues can cost you time, money, and emotional energy.

Flibanserin is approved by the FDA for hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in premenopausal women. That means it’s for women who have a persistent lack of sexual interest that causes distress. It doesn’t boost fertility. It doesn’t increase ovulation. It doesn’t improve egg quality or uterine lining. It doesn’t help you get pregnant.

So why does this confusion exist? Because society links sex and babies tightly together. When a woman can’t conceive, people start looking at everything: her diet, her stress levels, her sleep, and yes - her sex drive. If she’s not feeling horny, the assumption is: fix the libido, and the baby will follow. But biology doesn’t work that way.

What flibanserin actually does

Flibanserin works on brain chemistry - not reproductive organs. It targets dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine receptors in areas of the brain linked to sexual motivation. Think of it like turning up the volume on desire, not the engine of reproduction.

In clinical trials, women taking flibanserin reported about 1.5 to 2 more satisfying sexual events per month compared to those on placebo. That might sound small, but for women who’d gone months without wanting sex at all, even that small shift felt life-changing. The drug doesn’t cause spontaneous arousal. You still need desire to be triggered by context - a romantic evening, emotional connection, or even just being alone with your partner after the kids are asleep.

It’s not a quick fix. It takes four to eight weeks to see any effect. And it only works if you take it daily, at bedtime. That’s because it’s designed to build up slowly in your system. Taking it right before sex? It won’t help.

Who qualifies for flibanserin?

The FDA approved flibanserin only for premenopausal women with acquired, generalized HSDD. That means:

• You used to have normal sexual desire, but it dropped significantly over time.
• The lack of interest isn’t tied to a specific partner or situation - it’s constant.
• You’re not taking it because your partner wants more sex - you’re taking it because the absence of desire is causing you real emotional pain.
• You’re not going through menopause.

If you’re postmenopausal, flibanserin isn’t approved for you. If your low desire started right after having a baby, or after a traumatic event, or because you’re overwhelmed with work and kids - that’s not HSDD. That’s burnout. And flibanserin won’t fix burnout.

Doctors screen for other causes first: thyroid issues, depression, anxiety, low testosterone, side effects from antidepressants, or relationship problems. If you’re on SSRIs like fluoxetine or sertraline, flibanserin might make things worse. It can interact badly with alcohol, certain antibiotics, and grapefruit juice. That’s why you need a prescription - and a real conversation with your doctor.

Why it’s not a fertility treatment

Fertility is a hormonal and anatomical process. Ovulation, egg quality, fallopian tube function, sperm motility, implantation - none of these are touched by flibanserin.

There’s no study, no trial, no peer-reviewed paper showing flibanserin improves conception rates. Zero. Not even a hint.

Some women report feeling more emotionally connected to their partners after starting flibanserin. That might lead to more frequent sex - which could, in theory, increase chances of pregnancy. But that’s an indirect side effect, not a biological mechanism. It’s like saying a better alarm clock helps you lose weight because you wake up earlier and go for a walk. Possible? Sure. Reliable? No.

If you’re trying to get pregnant and your libido is low, the real question isn’t ‘how do I boost desire?’ It’s ‘why is my desire low?’

Is it exhaustion from trying to conceive? Is it grief over miscarriages? Is it pressure from family? Is it fear of failure? Those aren’t medical problems - they’re human ones. And they need different tools: therapy, support groups, couples counseling, or simply giving yourself permission to take a break from the pressure.

The cost and the catch

Flibanserin isn’t cheap. Even with insurance, many women pay $150 to $300 a month. Without insurance, it can hit $500. That’s a lot to spend on a drug that doesn’t help you get pregnant - and might not even help your libido.

Side effects are real. About 1 in 10 women report dizziness, nausea, fatigue, or fainting - especially if they drink alcohol or take it on an empty stomach. The FDA even required a black box warning for low blood pressure and fainting. That’s not something you ignore.

And here’s the kicker: many women stop taking it after a few months. Why? Because the benefits are subtle. You don’t wake up suddenly craving sex. You just… notice that you’re thinking about it a little more often. That’s not enough for some. Others feel guilty taking a pill for desire - like they’re faking it.

What actually helps low libido in women trying to conceive

If you’re trying to get pregnant and your sex drive has vanished, here’s what works - backed by research and real experience:

• Reduce pressure: Turn sex from a task into a pleasure. Schedule intimacy without the goal of conception. Let go of the calendar.
• Therapy: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and sex therapy have been shown to improve sexual desire in women with fertility stress.
• Address sleep and stress: Cortisol, the stress hormone, kills libido. If you’re sleeping less than 6 hours a night, your body thinks it’s under threat - and reproduction is low priority.
• Test your hormones: Low testosterone, high prolactin, or thyroid imbalance can all kill desire - and these are treatable.
• Partner communication: Studies show that when couples talk openly about their emotional burdens during fertility struggles, sexual satisfaction improves - even if frequency doesn’t.

Flibanserin might help some women feel more like themselves again. But if you’re hoping it will help you conceive, you’re chasing the wrong light.

What to do next

If you’re struggling with low desire and trying to get pregnant:

1. Stop searching for a pill that fixes fertility. Focus on the real causes of your low libido.
2. Ask your OB-GYN or reproductive endocrinologist to run basic hormone tests: TSH, prolactin, testosterone, estradiol.
3. Consider seeing a therapist who specializes in fertility or sexual health - not just any counselor.
4. If you’re still interested in flibanserin after that, ask your doctor if you meet the strict criteria for HSDD. Don’t self-prescribe. Don’t buy it online.
5. Give yourself grace. Your body isn’t broken. You’re not failing. You’re navigating one of the hardest emotional journeys many women ever face.

Flibanserin is not a ray of hope for infertility. But it can be a ray of hope for women who’ve lost their sense of sexual self - and that matters too. Just don’t confuse the two.