Does Viagra Work For Women?

Authored by

Marie Gabrielle Laguna Bedia

05 October 2022

Reviewed by

Samantha Burgess

Lead Healthcare Content Creator

What’s covered?

Does Viagra Work For Women

Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) occurs if a woman is dissatisfied with her sex life. FSD is not a disease but a problem that may result in distress, and several women struggle with this problem at a certain point in their lives. While the famed tiny blue pill, Viagra, is FDA-approved medication for treating male erectile dysfunction that aids in improving the penis's blood flow. It is not currently authorised for treating sexual dysfunction in women; however, some have been known to use it without authorisation. In certain circumstances, doctors might use the medicine off-label to treat arousal concerns. This article explains further about the use of Viagra for women with a low sexual desire.

What Is Viagra, And How Does It Work?

viagra can be used to aid in the blood flow to the penis and can assist in erectile dysfunction

Viagra is a prescription erectile dysfunction drug (ED). It aids in muscular relaxation, increasing blood flow to the penis. The individual using it may obtain an erection if sexually stimulated. Furthermore, Viagra includes the active component Sildenafil, which relaxes specific muscles in the body. If this occurs, the blood arteries have greater room to expand, enabling more blood to travel through.

Moreover, the last and most critical phase for arousal to develop is blood flow to the penis. Whenever a man uses Viagra, the smooth muscles around the blood vessels in the penis relaxes, allowing more blood to travel through. This is what occurs if a guy becomes sexually stimulated and lets himself get aroused.

Viagra treat erectile dysfunction in man by targeting the body's physical components that are required for an erection. It does not increase sexual desire, but it enhances blood flow to the penis, causing it to get erect. Furthermore, viagra may be administered 30 to 4 hrs before sex and last for up to 8 hrs.

Does Viagra Work For Women?

women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder may not have sexual arousal and have a low sexual desire

Libido and sexual desire are complex topics. The main difficulty here is that women and men have substantially distinct sexual function stimulation and responses; thus, what is a good solution for males is unlikely to benefit women.

The research study on the impact of Viagra on women is not encouraging. While the medication's mechanism for increasing the area's blood flow is beneficial for increasing physical arousal, the drug doesn't appear to have any impact on sexual excitement. While several small studies, including the UCLA trial, have demonstrated that Viagra improves sexual pleasure, later research has failed to simulate this progress.

Furthermore, the fact that Viagra hasn't been approved to be taken by women indicates that the medication's producers could not conduct adequate clinical studies that show the drug is an effective and safe treatment for women with sexual dysfunction.

What Are The Potential Side Effects Of Viagra On Women?

female sexual arousal disorder is a troubling condition that affects the sex lives of women

Viagra can end up causing a decrease in blood pressure, particularly after several hours of using it. This could be a concern if you already have low blood pressure or are starting to take blood pressure medications. While Viagra would seem suitable for most men, there are only a few studies on its long-term safety in women. According to research in women, it appears to be well-tolerated. Among the side effects have been:

Palpitations
Indigestion
Visual disturbances
Flushing
Nasal congestion
Headache

How Much Viagra Should A Woman Take?

Viagra should be taken in 25-, 50-, and 100-milligram dosages. Men are often advised to begin with a minor dosage and gradually increase it if it does not work. It should be taken 30 min to four hours before sexual intercourse. The maximum daily dosage for males is 100 mg. Meanwhile, doses in female trials have frequently varied from 10 to 100 mg. Because it is not designed for this usage, the label doesn't contain dosage advice for women. A prescription is also required to ensure safe dosage administration. The dosage will be determined by a physician, who will also offer health information.

How To Treat Sexual Dysfunction In Women?

Remember that sexual dysfunction is just an issue if it concerns you. Therapy is not necessary, but you should get it if it doesn't annoy you. Because there are various causes and symptoms of female sexual dysfunction, therapy differs. It is critical that you express your worries and also know your body and its typical sexual reaction. Your sex life objectives are also vital for selecting therapy and determining whether or not it is working for you. Women with sexual problems frequently benefit from a multifaceted therapy strategy that tackles emotional, relational, and medical difficulties.

What Are The Viagra Alternative Treatments For Women's Sexual Dysfunction?

if you experience low sexual desire there are non-medication options for treatment

Other prescription drugs and therapies have developed as specialised treatments for various female sexual problems confronted. These are some examples:

Female Sexual Dysfunction Non-medical Therapy

Your physician may advise you to begin treating sexual dysfunction with the following methods:

Listen and talk. Open communication with your husband can make or break your sexual pleasure.
Maintain a healthy way of life. Excessive alcohol consumption can impair your sexual functioning.
Engage in some physical activity. Constant physical exercises can improve mood and stamina, boosting genuine affection.
Consider professional help. Consult a counsellor therapist who specialises in relationship and sexual issues.
Apply vaginal lubrication oil. If you experience pain during sex and vaginal dryness, a vaginal lubricant might be beneficial.
Try out a device. Arousal can be increased by stimulating the clitoris. To give clitoral stimulation, utilise a vibrator.

Medical Treatments For Female Sexual Dysfunction

Treatment for sexual dysfunction frequently necessitates addressing underlying hormonal fluctuations and medical problems. Your physician might advise you to switch medications or prescribe a new one. Treatments for female sexual dysfunction may include:

Oestrogen replacement therapy. Localised oestrogen therapy is available as a tablet, cream, or vaginal ring.
Ospemifene (Osphena). This treatment helps by selectively modulating oestrogen receptors. It alleviates pain throughout sex for women suffering from vulvovaginal atrophy.
Androgen replacement therapy. Testosterone is in androgen. And though testosterone levels in women are much lower than in men, testosterone is involved in regular sexual activity in both men and women.
Flibanserin (Addyi). Initially invented as an antidepressant, flibanserin is now recognised by the FDA as a therapy for premenopausal women with sexual arousal disorder.
Bremelanotide (Vyleesi). Another FDA-approved therapy for female sexual arousal disorder in premenopausal women is bremelanotide. This medicine is administered as an injection in the thigh or belly skin before the expected sexual intercourse.

Conclusion

Low sex drive in women might be caused by psychological, physical, or hormonal factors. Your doctor might give you female Viagra off-label to treat physical issues associated with sexual stimulation difficulties. Viagra, on the other hand, cannot directly impact an emotional or sexual desire. Moreover, several organic solutions are considered to aid with sex drive and stimulation, but they might or might not be beneficial based on what triggers low sex drive. Finally, because they may interfere with other drugs you are using, consult with a doctor before using them.

To learn more about women's sexual concerns, read our women's health hub here.