When a woman is not satisfied or happy with her sexual life, then it is known as female sexual dysfunction (FSD). FSD is not any kind of illness, although this is a condition that can cause distress in any woman. Many women have issues with sex life at some stage in their regular life. FSD can affect one-third of young and middle-aged women, and around half of old women.
Can Viagra treat FSD?
Viagra is a famous solution for treating ED in men but what about the effect of this on women? It’s important to know that Viagra is not suitable for women and is only licensed to be used by men. There is some evidence that Viagra may enhance sexual pleasure in women.
And it is known that Viagra works by enhancing the blood flow to the penile area. In women it’s thought that Viagra could boost the blood flow to the female genital region, enhancing the lubrication and aiding orgasm. This theory has led to research into women who take Viagra. Many such studies have focused on the treatment of FSD. However, with the medical trials to date have failed to form significant evidence that Viagra works for women.
Viagra will not enhance a woman’s sexual drive or sexual desire. Low sexual drive is a significant symptom of FSD. As there has never been a large medical trial to figure out the effect of Viagra for women, the authorities cannot rest assured that Viagra is safe for women or say if Viagra works in women.
Viagra
Viagra is the name of a brand for a drug known as sildenafil. It’s an oral medication approved to treat men with erectile dysfunction (ED). The drug works by dilating blood vessels. With increased blood flow to the penis, it’s easier to get and sustain an erection. Viagra targets sexual performance, not sexual arousal. There’s limited evidence that the drug is somewhat beneficial for women with sexual dysfunction.
The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has not really approved Viagra for use in women. But your health expert or doctor can prescribe you this for off-label usage. Like every other drug, Viagra can cause some side effects. It can also interact with a few of the other medications. That’s the reason it’s quite essential to discuss this with your doctor before taking Viagra.
Potential benefits of Viagra in Women
In men, we know that Viagra dilates blood vessels and enhances the flow of blood to the penile area. Women who take this might also have enhanced blood flow to the genitals. That may help boost sensitivity, arousal, and orgasmic function. Studies on its effectiveness have had mixed outputs. It helps to understand that sexual dysfunction is a complex problem. Often, there are few multiple contributing inputs.
One thing that can suppress libido is the use of a few antidepressants:
- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
- serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
- Small, randomized controlled involved women suffering from depression who took these drugs & have witnessed sexual dysfunction. The study received funding from Pfizer, the maker of Viagra.
Results say that Viagra may help you cut down the adverse sexual effects of SSRIs and SNRIs. The women who took Viagra have been reported for better results than those who took a placebo. Few study participants witnessed improved arousal, vaginal lubrication, and orgasm. But that wasn’t the case for women whose arousal disorder is linked to neurological or even some vascular issues.
A trial compared sildenafil to placebo in pre-and post-menopausal women. They found no major difference. Few more research is needed to understand if women can expect any benefit from consuming Viagra.
Side effects
Viagra may form some blood pressure to drop down, especially within a few hours of consumption. That can be a problem if men already have low blood pressure or take solutions that lower the blood pressure. While Viagra appears to be safe for many men, there are some data on safety in women, especially in the long term. In a few studies that have involved women, it appears to be fairly tolerated. Side effects involve the following:
- headache
- nasal congestion
- flushing
- visual disturbances
- indigestion
- palpitations
How Much Viagra is good to take for a woman?
Viagra comes a range of 25-, 50-, and 100-milligram of doses. Men are advised to start with the lowest dose if possible, increasing it if it doesn’t work right. You take it half hour to 4 hours before starting with sexual activity. The maximum dose for men that can be taken is 100 milligrams per day.
In studies on women, doses have usually ranged from 10 to 100 milligrams. The product label doesn’t involve dosing any kind of information for women because it’s not intended for their use.
If you do plan on consuming Viagra, make sure to consider the source. Some sites that claim to sell Viagra are selling counterfeit drugs. These may not work right like Viagra & it may not be quite safe. To access the real thing, a prescription is required. A doctor will make sure of the dose & make sure to provide some safety information.
Takeaway
Viagra is an FDA-approved drug to treat ED in men. It’s strictly not approved to be used by women and studies thus far have had mixed results. There’s no “female Viagra,” but there are a few drugs available that are approved to treat sexual dysfunction in a few women. There are plenty of reasons for the low sex drive in women. Before consuming Viagra or any other kind of medication, make sure to discuss this with your doctor. Ask about some potential benefits & some side effects of these medications.
