Cindy Eckert on Addyi, Low Libido & Gender Bias in Medicine
This week on Scrubs to Stilettos, we’re talking about libido, power, policy — and why women’s sexual health has historically been treated so differently than men’s.
We’re joined by Cindy Eckert, founder and CEO of Sprout Pharmaceuticals and the force behind Addyi — the first FDA-approved treatment for hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in women, often referred to as the “female viagra” or “little pink pill.”
Cindy opens up about the uphill battle to bring Addyi to market, the gender bias she says exists in medicine and regulation, and why women’s desire has been misunderstood for so long. We also discuss the landmark FDA expansion approving Addyi for postmenopausal women and what this moment means for the future of women’s health.
Plus, Cindy shares what it was like seeing her story documented in The Pink Pill: Sex, Drugs, and Who Has Control, which premiered March 6 on Paramount+.
In This Episode We Discuss:
* What HSDD actually is
* Why women’s low libido is often dismissed
* The difference between Addyi and erectile dysfunction medications
* Why it took so long to get approval for postmenopausal women
* Sex, intimacy, and longevity
* The cultural stigma around female desire
* Taking on the FDA and challenging institutional bias
* Cindy’s billion-dollar business journey
* The growing conversation around women’s sexual wellness
About Our Guest: Cindy was named to the TIME100 Health 2026 list, and her story is the subject of the documentary The Pink Pill: Sex, Drugs, and Who Has Control.
Connect with Cindy Eckert:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cindypinkceo/
Watch The Pink Pill: Sex, Drugs & Who Has Control on Paramount+
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Addyi Disclaimer: ADDYI, flibanserin, is for women under 65 with low sexual desire disorder who have not had problems with low sexual desire in the past, and who have low sexual desire that is troubling to them no matter the type of sexual activity, situation, or sexual partner. The low sexual desire is not due to a medical or mental health problem, problems in the relationship or medicine or other drug use. ADDYI is not for men or to enhance sexual performance. Your risk of severe low blood pressure and fainting is increased if you drink 1-2 standard alcoholic drinks close in time to your ADDYI dose. Wait at least 2 hours after one to two drinks before taking ADDYI at bedtime and skip your dose if you drink three or more drinks that evening. If you take certain prescription, OTC or herbal medications, or have liver problems, the risk of low blood pressure and fainting increases and you should not take ADDYI. Do not take if you are allergic to any of ADDYI’s ingredients. Sometimes serious sleepiness can occur. Common side effects include dizziness, nausea, tiredness, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep and dry mouth. See PI and Boxed Warning at addyi.com/pi [https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__addyi.com_pi&d=DwMGaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=-WkOMOAxd1nYIYNS070iN-aYhUgI5yMmss81g-0sA94&m=neE5gd5_IW-ZVh5Hfz8uUT--z5ldxhbl_VJr3rT06oDnVkhJ9FF6mgkzrrt5yYdj&s=gQxkCywquZ6RkGEeyQ0uYtJRS-ghI_McJYP_Cn1OL0A&e=]
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