Sildenafil cream for female sexual arousal disorder available to prescribe in select states

A two-part pilot study of sildenafil (VIAGRA) in men with erectile dysfunction caused by spinal cord injury.

• Sildenafil is often known by the brand name Viagra, primarily for men.
• Researchers are exploring other PDE5 inhibitors for women’s sexual health.
• Efficacy of sildenafil in women might depend on underlying health conditions.
• Women with cardiovascular issues should be particularly cautious with sildenafil.
• Some women report increased sexual satisfaction after using sildenafil.
• Medical advice is crucial before women consider sildenafil as a treatment.

Hultling C, Giuliano F, Quirk F, Peña B, Mishra A, Smith MD .

Quality of life in patients with spinal cord injury receiving Viagra (sildenafil citrate) for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Sildenafil effects on sexual and cardiovascular responses in women with spinal cord injury. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR 4th edn (Text Revision). Development of a sexual function questionnaire for clinical trials of female sexual dysfunction.

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The results of this study are similar to other reports regarding a lack of clinically meaningful benefit of sildenafil in other populations of women. This study was sponsored by Pfizer Inc. Gain free access to this article, as well as selected content from this journal and more on nature.com Targeting recovery: priorities of the spinal cord-injured population. Targeting recovery: priorities of the spinal cord-injured population. Sexual activities, response and satisfaction in women pre- and post-spinal cord injury.

Sexual Function after Spinal Cord Injury: Innervation, Assessment, and Treatment

Sexual activities, desire, and satisfaction in males pre- and post-spinal cord injury. Arch Sex Behav 1993; 22: 217–228. Sexual arousal and orgasm in women: effects of spinal cord injury. The effects of spinal cord injury on psychogenic sexual arousal in males. Sexual responsiveness in women with spinal cord injuries: differential effects of anxiety-eliciting stimulation. J Womens Health Gend Based Med 2002; 11: 277–289. The use of the sexual function questionnaire as a screening tool for women with sexual dysfunction.

Development of a questionnaire on sexual quality of life in women.

Detection in biological fluids

The information is not a substitute for medical care. To evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of oral sildenafil in women with female sexual arousal disorder as a result of SCI (paraplegia/tetraplegia). The study was conducted at clinical practice sites in North America (n =23), 11 European countries (n =23), Australia (n =4) and South Africa (n =2). 129 women were randomized and treated with sildenafil or matching placebo. A 4-week baseline period was followed by 12 weeks of treatment, which could be increased from 50 to 100 mg or decreased to 25 mg once during the treatment period, depending on efficacy and tolerability.

What special precautions should I follow?

By use of an event log, sexual activity was monitored between screening and the end of treatment. The Sexual Function sildenafil 130mg Questionnaire, the Sexual Quality of Life Questionnaire–Female, a global efficacy question and Sexual Distress Question were also assessed. Sildenafil-treated women and placebo-treated women had an increase in their percentage of sexual activities throughout the course of the study, with no statistically significant difference between groups in the percentage of successful sexual activities at end of treatment versus baseline. There were also no statistically significant differences between sildenafil- and placebo-treated women on the aforementioned measures. The most common adverse events included headache and vasodilatation. Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors and female sexual response: faulty protocols or paradigms? This study was sponsored by Pfizer Inc. Editorial support was provided by Anne Johnson, Janet E Matsuura, PhD, and Deborah M Campoli-Richards, BSPharm, RPh, of Complete Healthcare Communications, Inc., and was funded by Pfizer Inc. Marca Sipski Alexander reports no commercial interests with the study sponsor.

How Viagra Works

Do not flush this medication down the toilet. Talk to your pharmacist about take-back programs in your community. Visit the FDA's Safe Disposal of Medicines website for more information. In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.

Study Design

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription. Keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines, vitamins, minerals, and dietary supplements you are taking. Bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to the hospital. You should carry the list with you in case of emergencies. Raymond Rosen reports no current commercial interests with the study sponsor. At the time of this research, Dr Rosen served as a consultant and research advisor for Pfizer Inc.

• 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.

Claes Hultling reports no commercial interests with the study sponsor.

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

Arch Sex Behav 2004; 33: 295–302. Effects of level and degree of spinal cord injury on male orgasm. Giuliano F, Hultling C, El Masry WS, Smith MD, Osterloh IH, Orr M et al. Randomized trial of sildenafil for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in spinal cord injury. Maytom MC, Derry FA, Dinsmore WW, Glass CA, Smith MD, Orr M et al. Tara Symonds and Scott Haughie are employees of Pfizer.

• Sildenafil works by relaxing blood vessels, increasing blood flow to genital areas.
• Female sexual arousal disorder may potentially be treated with sildenafil.
• Research shows mixed results regarding sildenafil's effectiveness in women.
• Sildenafil is not approved by the FDA specifically for women’s sexual problems.
• Possible risks for women include headaches and low blood pressure.
• Always consult a healthcare provider before trying sildenafil for women.

Susanne Steinberg was an employee of Pfizer when the study was conducted.

Sildenafil in women with sexual arousal disorder following spinal cord injury.

Sexual Health in the Neurogenic Patient Current Bladder Dysfunction Reports (2020) Knowledge Gaps in Urologic Care of Female Spinal Cord Injury Patients Current Urology Reports (2019) Sexual Function after Spinal Cord Injury: Innervation, Assessment, and Treatment Current Sexual Health Reports (2016) Learn more about compounded Sildenafil creams made for women. Sildenafil and its brand medication, Viagra, has been around since 1998 for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in men.

What should I do in case of overdose?

This report on medications is for your information only, and is not considered individual patient advice. Because of the changing nature of drug information, please consult your physician or pharmacist about specific clinical use. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. represents that the information provided hereunder was formulated with a reasonable standard of care, and in conformity with professional standards in the field. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc.

Drug information

makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, including, but not limited to, any implied warranty of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose, with respect to such information and specifically disclaims all such warranties. Users are advised that decisions regarding drug therapy are complex medical decisions requiring the independent, informed decision of an appropriate health care professional, and the information is provided for informational purposes only. The entire monograph for a drug should be reviewed for a thorough understanding of the drug's actions, uses and side effects. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. does not endorse or recommend the use of any drug. And, since then, it has revolutionized how doctors approach male sexual health complaints.

• Some studies suggest sildenafil might help women with sexual arousal disorder.
• The drug's vasodilating effects can have cardiovascular implications in women.
• Women should be cautious of counterfeit or unapproved sildenafil products.
• Combining sildenafil with other ED drugs in women is not recommended without medical advice.
• Psychological support remains an important aspect of treating female sexual dysfunction.
• Ongoing clinical trials aim to establish the safety and efficacy of sildenafil for women.

This has lead to the question of if Sildenafil or Viagra may just have positive sexual effects in women as well. Men and Women do have different sexual anatomies, but at the core of arousal is the same function involving smooth muscle relation and increased blood flow to the genital area, which is the underlying function of PDE-5 inhibitors such as Sildenafil. These similarities have led to studies being done on women who are struggling with female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD).

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It is not known if the vision loss was caused by the medication. If you experience a sudden loss of vision while you are taking sildenafil, call your doctor immediately. Do not take any more doses of sildenafil or similar medications such as tadalafil (Cialis) or vardenafil (Levitra) until you talk to your doctor. There have been reports of heart attack, stroke, irregular heartbeat, bleeding in the brain or lungs, high blood pressure, and sudden death in men who took sildenafil for erectile dysfunction. Most, but not all, of these people had heart problems before taking sildenafil.

Osphenia (Ospemifene)

It is not known whether these events were caused by sildenafil, sexual activity, heart disease, or a combination of these and other causes.Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking sildenafil. Some patients experienced a sudden decrease or loss of hearing after they took sildenafil or other medications that are similar to sildenafil. It is not known if the hearing loss was caused by the medication. If you experience a sudden loss of hearing, sometimes with ringing in the ears or dizziness, while you are taking sildenafil, call your doctor immediately. If you are taking sildenafil (Viagra) for erectile dysfunction, do not take any more doses of sildenafil (Viagra) or similar medications such as tadalafil (Cialis) or vardenafil (Levitra) until you talk to your doctor. FSAD has to do with persistent difficulties in arousal in female patients.

How should this medicine be used?

If you are taking sildenafil (Liqrev, Revatio) for PAH, do not stop taking your medication until you talk to your doctor. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while you are taking this medication. If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online ( or by phone (1-800-332-1088). Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store the tablets at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).

Exploratory Phase 2b RESPOND Study, Completed in 2023

Store the suspension at room temperature or in a refrigerator, but do not freeze it. Dispose of any unused suspension after 60 days. Keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers are not child-resistant. Place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. Dispose of unneeded medications in a way so that pets, children, and other people cannot take them. One placebo-controlled trial in women who were experiencing sexual dysfunction while taking an antidepressant found that adding in Sildenafil helped improve reported arousal, lubrication, and orgasm as compared to the placebo groups, but did not change any reported pain from sexual intercourse.