If you have watched any Hollywood rom-com movie made in the last twenty years, then you probably know exactly what Viagra is and what it does.

If you haven’t heard of Viagra before, worry not. This magical medication helps men deal with issues like erectile dysfunction, greatly aiding in making sexual experiences much better. It is also known as Sildenafil and can be prescribed to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension as well. It is typically ingested orally but can also be injected into a vein. One little pill can last about two whole hours.

 Viagra was originally created as a possible treatment for hypertension and severe chest pains (angina). Excellent results in men led to a pivot in testing, and before long, it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and on the market for men all over.

So if men have such a great solution to their bedroom problems, it begs the following question:
Does Viagra for women exist?

 Is there a women’s Viagra?

Long answer short, no. Because women can’t experience erectile dysfunction and because this pill helps rectify that, there isn’t a Viagra that exists for women. The FDA has not approved Viagra for use in women. That said, a doctor can prescribe it for off-label use. Since this type of usage is off-label, it is extremely important that you consult a licensed medical professional before trying it for yourself.

What is female Viagra?

Just because women can’t experience erectile dysfunction does not mean that they can’t experience sexual dysfunction at all. For women, the term is female sexual dysfunction or female sexual arousal disorder and contrary to the media’s portrayal of women in the bedroom, it’s quite a common issue. Sadly, there has not been as much research into female sexual dysfunction or female sexual arousal disorder as compared to erectile dysfunction in men.

This is precisely why there are certain medications have specifically been created to improve the sexual desire and/or libido of women. The most popularly known one is Flibanserin.

Also known as the female Viagra (thanks to its pink shape that is the counterpart of Viagra’s blue), it is usually prescribed by doctors to women with serious sex arousal issues that haven’t been remedied by changes to lifestyle and other factors.

It’s pertinent to note that this medicine is sold only on the basis of a prescription.

Can women take Viagra?

As we mentioned above, Viagra has not been approved for use in women. But there are some things that we do know about what would happen if a woman were to take it, the primary of which is that Viagra is a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor. This is an enzyme that affects blood flow. Viagra dilates blood vessels and increases the flow of blood to the penile region. Thus, women who take Viagra might also experience increased blood flow to the genitals. Consequently, this may increase sensitivity, arousal, and orgasmic function.

Just because some doctors might prescribe Viagra for off-label use, it doesn’t necessarily mean that this is a good idea. In case you are a woman who is struggling with issues like female sexual dysfunction or female sexual arousal disorder, there are medications that have been conceived for your specific needs. Taking these assures better and more relevant results.

What is the need for Viagra for women?

Given that Viagra treats a very male condition of erectile dysfunction, there really is no need for Viagra for women. Rather there is a need for medications and treatments that explore how to manage female sexual dysfunction or female sexual arousal disorder.

Luckily, scientific research has made leaps and bounds on this front in the recent past, creating drugs and other therapies to address female sexual dysfunction or female sexual arousal disorder and related conditions.

Current evidence of women using viagra.

Studies on the effectiveness of Viagra for women have yielded mixed results. To begin with, sexual dysfunction in women is a complex issue that often has multiple contributing factors such as antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). A 2008 study showed that Viagra might actually help reduce these effects of SSRIs and SNRIs. A 2014 article claims that in a study of post-menopausal women with sexual arousal disorders, improved arousal, vaginal lubrication and orgasm were seen with Viagra usage.

All said and done, far more research is required in this field before any conclusions can be drawn.

Alternate natural viagras for women.

Science and ancient medication techniques have long held that there are certain natural aphrodisiacs present in the world around us that can increase the sex drive. Especially for women.

The list is long but not exhaustive and includes ginkgo biloba, ginseng, maca, tribulus terrestris, saffron, red wine, apples and fenugreek.

Anecdotally, there are food items that allegedly bolster the female sex drive too. These include but are not limited to the following:

  • Chocolate
  • Coffee
  • Honey
  • Strawberries
  • Raw oysters
  • ​​Capsaicin (which is the active component of chilli peppers)
  • Saw palmetto
  • Chasteberry
  • Figs
  • Bananas
  • Potatoes

In conclusion, while this wonderful blue pill might improve the flow of blood to the female genitals, it isn’t really considered an effective treatment for women with female sexual dysfunction. To put it in simple terms, there is no female Viagra.

Luckily, it’s not as bleak as the sentence above makes it sound. There is medication available to treat female sexual dysfunction and related issues. If you’re a woman who is concerned about changes to your libido, lowering of your sex drive and troubles with arousal, then your best step is to consult a doctor before you begin experiments with Viagra on yourself.

Categories: Health

Nicolas Desjardins

Hello everyone, I am the main writer for SIND Canada. I've been writing articles for more than 12 years and I like sharing my knowledge. I'm currently writing for many websites and newspapers. I always keep myself very informed to give you the best information. All my years as a computer scientist made me become an incredible researcher. You can contact me on our forum or by email at [email protected].