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