Why Women’s Sexual Health Matters: Cindy Eckert on Addyi, Libido Science & Stigma

Getting Better with Jonathan Van Ness

Sony Music

Self-improvement, Society & Culture, Comedy, Education

4.9 • 21.6K Ratings

🗓️ 25 February 2026

⏱️ 49 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Cindy Eckert (Addyi) joins JVN to talk all things women’s sexual health, libido, and the science behind desire. Cindy breaks down her TIME100 Health feature, gives a preview of the upcoming Paramount+ documentary about her workThe Pink Pill: Sex, Drugs & Who Has Control, shares the iconic story of Addyi (often called the “female Viagra”) and her fight for better access to women’s health care. Jonathan and Cindy also unpack the science of libido, how hormones, stress, and stigma affect sexual wellness, and why sexual health is directly connected to quality of life. If you’ve ever wondered about low libido, women’s sexual desire, Addyi, or how to talk about sexual health without shame - this episode is for you! Full Getting Better Video Episodes now available on YouTube. Follow Cindy Eckert on @cindypinkceo Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn Executive Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: www.patreon.com/jvn Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey Better Babes. Welcome back to getting better. Female pleasure. Who gave us permission to not know
0:06.6	about that to the level that we do not know about it? There is a pink pill for women's pleasure,
0:11.9	for women's desire. It's called Addie. We need to learn more about it and why it's been so much
0:16.8	harder for women to get real medical options to treat sexual wellness than it has been for
0:21.0	men.
0:21.9	Buckle up.
0:22.7	We're going to female pleasure town and I can't wait for you to come with me.
0:26.2	Let's go.
0:28.1	Cindy, welcome to getting better.
0:29.8	Thank you for having me.
0:31.0	Queen, you are all over the place.
0:34.1	I'm so excited for you.
0:36.2	Time 100 Health feature, Slay. You're debuting your documentary on
0:40.9	Paramount Plus. I'm just, I'm ecstatic for you. And I also love your mission. I love what you were doing
0:48.3	with your platform and how you're showing up in the world. Over here in the pot and they're getting
0:52.7	better land. I've learned so much about
0:55.2	like women and about how like women were not included in like scientific studies until like the
1:01.5	90s, like eugenics and how eugenics like plays into like misunderstanding of like women's desire
1:06.4	and pleasure. And so we're so excited to learn today about desire. Well, also, that was such a long
1:12.5	thing. How are you? I'm great. Good. Are you kidding? I have a pink pill. I'm happy. Yes, we got a pink
1:18.6	pill, honey. So let's start off first. Let's start there. Okay. Before we get into the science behind the pink
1:24.3	pill, which you love Addie. What do you wish people understood about
	...

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