Low Dose Sildenafil (AKA Viagra®) for Women

Verywell Health acknowledges that sex and gender are related concepts, but they are not the same.

Interested, but not quite ready?

The women received 4-week regimens of 25-mg sildenafil, 50-mg sildenafil, and placebo in random order, with a 1-week washout between treatments; each tablet was to be taken 1 hour before intercourse, not more than once daily… Given the success of medicines to treat trouble getting and keeping an erection, called erectile dysfunction, companies have looked for a medicine to help women with sex. Viagra even has been tried as a treatment for sexual dysfunction in women. But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn't approved this use of Viagra. For years there were no FDA-approved medicines for treating problems with sexual arousal or sexual desire in women.

Corresponding author

Yet 4 in 10 women report having sexual concerns. The FDA now has approved two medicines. The FDA has approved a daily pill called flibanserin (Addyi) to treat low sexual desire in women before menopause. This medicine started as a treatment for depression. Addyi may boost sex drive in women with low sexual desire. Sex refers to biology: chromosomal makeup, hormones, and anatomy. People are most often assigned male or female at birth based on their external anatomy; some people do not fit into that sex binary and are intersex.

Product	Dosage	Quantity + Bonus	Price
Viagra Generic	100mg	360 + 10 Pills	330.21€ 314.49€	Buy
Viagra Generic	150mg	120 + 8 Pills	177.58€ 169.12€	Buy
Kamagra	100mg	60 + 4 Pills	201.34€ 191.75€	Buy
Viagra Generic	150mg	270 + 10 Pills	326.61€ 311.06€	Buy
Kamagra Polo	100mg	20 Pills	83.56€ 79.58€	Buy
Kamagra Oral Jelly	100mg	220 + 18 Sachets	662.24€ 630.70€	Buy
Viagra Generic	150mg	10 Pills	36.73€ 34.98€	Buy
Kamagra	100mg	84 + 6 Pills	264.44€ 251.85€	Buy
Viagra Generic	50mg	90 + 6 Pills	107.37€ 102.26€	Buy
Kamagra Oral Jelly	100mg	63 + 7 Sachets	224.18€ 213.50€	Buy
Viagra Generic	200mg	30 + 2 Pills	83.07€ 79.11€	Buy
Viagra Generic	200mg	20 Pills	61.69€ 58.75€	Buy
Viagra Generic	100mg	180 + 8 Pills	199.37€ 189.88€	Buy

Gender describes a person's internal sense of self as a woman, man, nonbinary person, or another gender, and the associated social and cultural ideas about roles, behaviors, expressions, and characteristics.

Are there pills or other medications that increase sex drive in women?

Oral sildenafil (Viagra): In 2024, a review examined the effectiveness of sildenafil for female sexual dysfunction. Six randomized controlled trials met the criteria, considered the gold standard for evaluating treatments. Four out of six studies found that oral sildenafil was effective for female sexual dysfunction. However, in two of the studies, it was not effective. More research is needed, and whether or not sildenafil is effective at treating female sexual dysfunction remains inconclusive.

What special precautions should I follow?

Topical sildenafil (Viagra): There is minimal research on the use of topical sildenafil. One randomized controlled trial aimed to explore whether topical sildenafil could improve genital blood flow and treat female sexual arousal disorder. The study found that sildenafil cream increased sexual arousal sensation, desire, and orgasm, and reduced sexual distress. Female sexual dysfunction is complex and can have multiple causes, such as a difficulty reaching orgasm, painful intercourse, or low libido. More research is needed to identify which women may benefit from Viagra. Research studies sometimes don't use the terminology in this way.

Why trust our experts?

It's for women who are not happy with their low sex drive. Possible serious side effects include low blood pressure, dizziness and fainting. These side effects are more likely to happen if the medicine is mixed with alcohol. The FDA says not to drink alcohol if you take this medicine. Experts suggest that you stop taking the medicine if your sex drive doesn't improve after eight weeks.

Hormone therapy

The FDA also has approved a medicine given as a shot to treat low sexual desire in women before menopause. Bremelanotide (Vyleesi) is injected under the skin in the belly or thigh at least 45 minutes before having sex. It should not be used more than once a day or more than eight times a month. Side effects can include nausea, headache, vomiting and reactions at the site of the shot. Talk with your healthcare professional to see if this medicine might be right for you. Terms that describe gender (“woman,” “man”) may be used when terms for sex (“female,” “male”) are more appropriate. To reflect our sources accurately, this article uses terms like "female," "male," "woman," and "man" as the sources use them.

The Sexy Science Behind Dare to Play

You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Overview of sexual dysfunction in women: Management. Viagra is sometimes prescribed to treat female sexual arousal disorder, but its effectiveness is still unclear. If a woman takes Viagra, it might help increase blood flow to the genitals, which could increase sensitivity and arousal.

How should sildenafil for women be used?

While some studies show Viagra might work for female sexual dysfunction, more research is needed to know for sure. When a woman takes Viagra, it may increase blood flow to her genitals, potentially enhancing sensitivity and arousal, though its effectiveness is still inconclusive and it's not FDA-approved for this purpose. While generally safe, mild side effects can occur, and other more effective treatments for female sexual arousal disorder exist. Evidence is limited regarding the benefits of Viagra (sildenafil) for females with sexual dysfunction. While Viagra is not FDA-approved for women, healthcare providers may prescribe it off-label. Viagra (sildenafil) is a prescription medication approved for treating erectile dysfunction (ED) in adult males.

What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?

Sexual problems may be due to trouble with arousal, a lack of desire or both. Many factors can affect sexual desire in women. Many women find that the stresses of daily life lower their desire for sex. Highs and lows in sexual desire may go along with the beginning or end of a relationship or with major life changes, such as pregnancy or menopause. For some women, orgasm can be hard to reach.

Flibanserin (Addyi)

This can cause worries that lead to a loss of interest in sex. Desire often is linked to a sense of closeness between partners, as well as sexual issues from the past. Some chronic conditions, such as diabetes or multiple sclerosis, can cause changes in arousal or orgasm. If you have trouble with sexual desire or response, talk with a member of your healthcare team. You might want to talk to a sex therapist. PDE-5 degrades a nucleotide called cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). This nucleotide acts as a messenger between cells.

What should I do if I forget to take a dose?

The co-primary efficacy end points included change from baseline to week 12 in the Arousal Sensation domain of the Sexual Function Questionnaire (SFQ28), as well as question 14 of the Female Sexual Distress Scale—Desire, Arousal, Orgasm (FSDS-DAO).2 Greater improvement in SFQ28 Arousal Sensation domain scores was observed in patients receiving sildenafil cream, although “there were no statistically significant differences between sildenafil and placebo cream users in the coprimary and secondary efficacy end points,” wrote the authors. The investigators also conducted an exploratory post hoc analysis evaluating a subset of the intention-to-treat population who had a diagnosis of FSDD with or without concomitant decreased desire. In this subset, significant increases in SFQ28 Arousal Sensation domain score were seen vs the placebo group. These patients also had a higher mean improvement in SFQ28 Desire and Orgasm domain scores, as well as significantly decreased sexual distress and interpersonal difficulties as assessed by FSDS-DAO questions 3, 5, and 10.2 “As more women speak openly about their sexual health, the need for research-backed solutions has never been greater,” said Irwin Goldstein, MD, director of San Diego Sexual Medicine in California and a founder of the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health in the news release. “Daré’s commitment to both clinical integrity and timely access ensures women who need it don’t have to wait to benefit from this innovation.”1 DARE to PLAY sildenafil cream now available for pre-order by prescription: First evidence-based topical arousal cream for women begins commercial rollout in select states via 503B outsourcing facility.

Related support groups

Preliminary efficacy of topical sildenafil cream for the treatment of female sexual arousal disorder: A randomized controlled trial. Sildenafil is a standard treatment for male erectile dysfunction, but its application in female sexual dysfunction remains uncertain. These Italian authors conducted a randomized, double-blind, .. These Italian authors conducted a randomized, double-blind, crossover study to explore the use of sildenafil in 51 women (aged 22-38) with documented ovarian function who reported adequate sexual desire but decreased arousal. Subjects were recruited from a sexual dysfunction clinic; each had a lack of vaginal lubrication and a lack of clitoral and vaginal sensation or slow sexual response. Following sexual stimulation, PDE-5 inhibitors cause a local release of nitric oxide, which increases cGMP and relaxes the muscles around blood vessels.

Factor	Impact	Explanation	Recommendations
Anxiety	Reduced efficacy	Anxiety can impair sexual response	Counseling or therapy suggested
Depression	Reduced libido affecting outcomes	Mental health impacts physiological response	Medical treatment advisable
Stress	Interferes with arousal	Acute stress can impair drug effectiveness	Stress management techniques
Confidence in intimacy	Enhances perceived effectiveness	Positive attitude can improve outcomes	Psychological support recommended

This dilation increases blood flow to the penis, making it easier to get and sustain an erection.

• Some women seek sildenafil for increasing genital blood flow and sensation.
• The placebo effect can influence perceived benefits in women using sildenafil.
• Women with cardiovascular risk should avoid sildenafil unless approved by a doctor.
• Topical or alternative therapies might be considered alongside or instead of sildenafil.
• Scientific consensus on sildenafil’s safety for women remains under development.
• Proper dosing and medical oversight are key to minimizing risks.

Sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra, is also marketed as Revatio, which treats pulmonary arterial hypertension and improves exercise capacity.

• The legality of women using sildenafil varies by country and local regulations.
• Lifestyle modifications can complement medication for better sexual health outcomes.
• Women with diabetes may have different responses to sildenafil therapy.
• The stigma surrounding female sexual dysfunction can hinder treatment seeking.
• Advances in research are aimed at developing female-specific ED medications.
• Open discussions with physicians are essential for safe and effective treatments.

In males, following sexual stimulation, Viagra dilates blood vessels.

Brand Name	Formulation	Dosage Options	Notes
Viagra Women	Oral tablet	25 mg, 50 mg	Off-label use, not approved by FDA
Female Arousal Gel	Topical gel	N/A	Claimed to enhance blood flow
Sildenafil Citrate	Generic oral tablet	25-100 mg	Widely used off-label in women
Custom Compounded	Customized formulations	Variable	Prescribed by special clinics

It increases blood flow to the penis, resulting in an erection.

What side effects can this medicine cause?

Medicines, hormones, creams, lubricants, clitoral stimulation or other treatments sometimes can help. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update sildenafil citrate tables the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. Women’s health topics - straight to your inbox Get the latest information from our Mayo Clinic experts on women’s health topics, serious and complex conditions, wellness and more. Click to view a preview and subscribe below.

Ospemifene (Osphena)

Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data. We use the data you provide to deliver you the content you requested. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, we may combine your email and website data with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, we will only use your protected health information as outlined in our Notice of Privacy Practices. You may opt out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the email. Studies have demonstrated that PDE5 is present in vaginal, clitoral, and labial smooth muscle. This suggests that PDE5 is involved in female sexual function, particularly genital arousal.

Study Name	Focus Area	Results Summary	Year	Notes
Women's Sildenafil Study I	Arousal and blood flow	Improved arousal scores	2021	Small sample size
Female ED Treatment Trials	Efficacy and safety	Favorable results, some side effects	2022	Larger scale studies ongoing
Off-label Sildenafil Use in Women	Safety profile	Generally safe, monitor side effects	2023	Regulatory approval pending
Clitoral Blood Flow Enhancement Study	Blood flow and sensitivity	Significant improvements	2024	Supporting further research