- More research into any aspect of human sexual function will add pieces to the big picture we are still developing of human sexual experience and potential.
- Drugs that are developed, tested, and approved as safe for use, can be very helpful tools for people dealing with a variety of sexual issues and dysfunctions.
- Increased public discussion of sexual issues brought out by new research may make sexuality an easier topic of conversation and help people communicate better about their sexual desires and concerns.
- Research is guided by financial agendas and not in the interest of public health.
- The appearance of drugs as an “easy fix” may discourage people from looking at more complicated social and interpersonal causes of sexual dissatisfaction.
- While new research may create more public discussion, these discussions often focus on the biological aspects of sexual functioning and leave out important social and even spiritual elements of our sexual experience.
On many levels there does seem to be a clash of ideas here.
Should we be focusing on “fixing” some biological or physiological aspect to our bodies, or should we focus inward, and look to our lifestyles, our relationships, even our attitudes about sex to find greater sexual satisfaction?
Taking a look at the bigger picture though, we can see that we’re actually trying everything. All this hype about new drugs hasn’t slowed down the sexual self-help industry, or the sex toy industry. They are both doing a booming business. And articulate defenders of the complicated nature of sexuality still have their voices and are still doing their best to give us a balanced idea of where to look when we want to improve our sexual lives.
In the end it seems most important that individuals learn how to critique the media, on both sides of the issue, and how, as best as possible, to make informed decisions about the ways they want to expand, explore, and otherwise improve on their lived sexual experience.
