Viagra is a drug licensed to help men with erectile dysfunction. Millions of men across the world have found that Viagra is an effective treatment for impotence.
Some women may also wonder if this pill can help improve their sex lives. Unsurprising considering nearly a third of women aged between 30-59 years old experience a period of low sexual libido at some point in their lives.
So can Viagra be used to boost sexual desire in women? Let’s take a closer look…
How Viagra works
Viagra contains the active ingredient Sildenafil which works by causing particular muscles in the body – the smooth muscles that surround blood vessels – to relax. When this happens, there is more space for the blood vessels to enlarge and allow more blood to pass through the penis. This is what normally happens when a man is sexually aroused. Viagra helps men with erectile dysfunction by increasing blood flow to the penis to aid in having an erection during sexual arousal.
Does Viagra work for women?
Some believe Viagra may increase sexual pleasure in women by increasing genital blood flow like it does in men. However, research on Viagra for treating female sexual dysfunction (FSD) has not found significant evidence that it works for women. While Viagra effectively aids erections in men by increasing penile blood flow, trials in women have failed to show it meaningfully improves female sexual response, arousal, or lubrication. The theory that Viagra could enhance female sexual experience through similar mechanisms as men has not been substantiated by clinical studies to date.
Is it dangerous for women to take?
Like every drug, Viagra can lead to side effects, regardless of whether it is taken by a man or a woman. These side effects include:
- Headaches
- Indigestion
- Diarrhoea
- Flushed skin
- Dizziness
- Heart attack
- Stroke
There has been very little scientific research about the negative effects of Viagra for women. So it is entirely possible that there could be different or additional gender-specific side effects for women – and the medium/long-term risks are still unknown.
Should women try Viagra?
In the UK, Viagra is only licensed to help men with erectile dysfunction and should not be taken by women. There’s no conclusive evidence that Viagra will help women to feel more sexually aroused and it might cause undesirable side effects.
If you’re experiencing low sexual desire and want to do something to improve it, talk to your doctor about your options.