Federal Regulators Reject Female Viagra

The little pink pill designed to boost women's libido hit a snag Friday. A Food and Drug Administration advisory panel recommended not to approve the so-called "female Viagra."

The vote was unanimous. The panel said the drug's impact was not "robust enough to justify the risks," which include dizziness, nausea, and fatigue.

In question is a pill called "Flibanserin." Even though it's been called the female Viagra, it's actually a very different drug. Viagra works by increasing blood flow to the male genitals. This one works on brain chemicals in the pleasure centers of a woman's brain.

The new drug is designed to treat a condition called "hypoactive sexual desire disorder," or HSDD. Ten to 20 percent of women suffer from it.

It's defined as a lack of sexual desire, causing emotional distress.

But the FDA found that the drug had not been proven to increase women's desire.

Even though the vote was unanimous, the panel encouraged the German manufacturer to continue its research and come back with more improvements.