Drug and supplement companies are preying on people’s insecurities and lack of knowledge regarding their sexual health. There is currently a proliferation of vaginal probiotic supplements and suppository capsules being marketed to women promoting “vaginal health”. Dr. Caroline Mitchell, assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology at Harvard Medical School said the evidence of effectiveness is scant. “There is almost no evidence that these have benefit for vaginal health. The studies are mostly poorly done and don’t adhere to rigorous reporting standards”. But that hasn’t stopped companies from promoting these products.
Meanwhile, erectile dysfunction ads are targeting young men that probably don’t need the meds or services offered. University of British Columbia urologist Dr. Ryan Flannigan said care and treatments are offered for “scenarios that really don’t need treatments…You’re kind of leveraging people’s vulnerabilities and feelings of insecurity to…push a product”.
