Abstract
Medicalization is a key process of social change and social influence. It occurs not merely because of scientific developments, but because biomedical claims are actively promoted by those with professional and economic interests in expanding medical domains. This article examines how women’s sexual health is being medicalized by the pharmaceutical industry, and why that poorly serves women’s real sexual lives.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Conrad P: Medicalization and social control. Ann Rev Sociol 1992, 18:209–232.
Riessman CK: Women and medicalization: a new perspective. Soc Policy 1983, 14(1):3–18.
Tiefer L: The medicalization of sexuality: conceptual, normative, and professional issues. Annu Rev Sex Res 1996, 7:252–282.
Daniluk JC: Women’s Sexuality Across the Life Span. New York: Guilford Press; 1998.
Tiefer L: Commentary on the status of sex research: feminism, sexuality, and sexology. J Psychol Human Sex 1991, 4:5–42.
Tiefer L: The emerging global discourse of sexual rights. J Sex Marital Ther 2002, 28:439–444.
The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Promote Sexual Health and Responsible Sexual Behavior. http://www.surgeongeneral. gov/library/sexualhealth/default.htm. 2001.
Giami A: Sexual health: the emergence, development, and diversity of a concept. Ann Rev Sex Res 2002, 13:1–35.
Berman JR, Berman L, Goldstein I: Female sexual dysfunction: incidence, pathophysiology, evaluation, and treatment options. Urology 1998, 54:385–391.
Basson R, Berman J, Burnett A, et al.: Report of the international consensus development conference on female sexual dysfunction: definitions and classifications. J Urol 2000, 163:888–893.
Tiefer L: Arriving at a "new view" of women’s sexual problems: background, theory, and activism. In A New View of Women’s Sexual Problems. Edited by Kaschak L, Tiefer L. Binghamton, NY: Haworth; 2001:63–98.
Moynihan R: The making of a disease: female sexual dysfunction. BMJ 2003, 326:45–47.
Laumann EO, Paik A, Rosen RC: Sexual dysfunction in the United States. JAMA 1999, 281:537–544.
Laumann EO, Gagnon JH, Michael RT, Michaels S: The Social Organization of Sexuality: Sexual Practices in the United States. Chicago: University of Chicago Press; 1994.
Grady D: Sure, we’ve got a pill for that. The New York Times. February 14, 1999; section 4:1, 5.
National Women’s Health Network: The Truth About Hormone Replacement Therapy. New York: Prima Publishing; 2002.
Coney S: The Menopause Industry. Alameda, CA: Hunter House; 1994.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tiefer, L. Female sexual dysfunction is being medicalized by the pharmaceutical industry: Pro. Curr sex health rep 1, 117–119 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-004-0028-x
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-004-0028-x