Women and Viagra: Dangerous Combination or Answer to Her Prayers?

Are you looking for a solution to help improve your “bedroom activity”? If you’re a man, you might have an easier time doing so, especially with all the choices – both prescription and natural – out in the market. But, if you’re a woman you may have fewer options. It seems almost everyone has heard of Viagra as an answer to men’s sexual dysfunction, but could women benefit from this drug as well? Let’s take a closer look at women’s use of Viagra.

How does Viagra work?
Viagra was originally created to help men with erectile dysfunction.  It allows an increase of blood flow to the penis and therefore helps men to reach (and sustain) an erection.  Although it seems to have positive results for men, studies indicate that it yields low results for women. 
 
Research on the topic
There have been few studies about the effects of Viagra on women.  One study involved treating 33 postmenopausal women who complained of sexual dysfunction with Viagra for 3 months.  These women were then assessed using the self-administered Index of Female Sexual Function (IFSF) and the global efficacy question (GEQ) “did treatment improve your sexual function?”

Mean scores showed that lubrication improved by 23.2 percent, orgasm by 7.4 percent, and clitoral sensation by 31.3 percent. Twenty-one percent of the women noted improvement on the GEQ. However, only 18.1 percent of the women had a significant therapeutic response (more than 60 percent improvement in IFSF score).

Negative side effects included clitoral discomfort and hypersensitivity in 21 percent of the women, and others reported headache and dizziness. Overall sexual function did not improve significantly.  However, since there have been so few empirical studies no definite conclusions have been confirmed in the effect of Viagra on women.
 
Why so few studies?
Although Viagra has been tested thoroughly in men, physicians agree that similar studies must be performed on women to determine the efficacy and safety of the drug.
 
However, the major obstacle when studying the effects of Viagra on women is the difficulty of measuring a women’s sexual arousal.  For men, the ability to achieve an erection is a straightforward method of determining Viagra’s efficacy.  Specialists claim that there may be numerous effects of the drug on women which must somehow be measured.   The various measurements of Viagra’s impact on women include amount of lubrication, blood flow, and overall sexual sensation – all of which complicate these studies.

Technically, from a woman’s perspective Viagra works by increasing the blood flow to the genital area.  The clitoris and the penis are similar organs and it would follow that Viagra could conceivably work for women who are an-orgasmic.  However, women and men obtain desire and arousal differently.  This factor alone can possibly account for the differences between men and women using Viagra.
 
Is it legal?
Even though the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Viagra only for men, it is legal for doctors to provide prescriptions for the drug to anyone regardless of sex.   Moreover, there has been little research conducted on the kinds of negative side effects Viagra may have on women.  Common side effects that men experience are headaches, indigestion, flushed skin, dizziness, and diarrhea.  It is known for causing heart attacks and strokes especially when used in combination with other drugs including recreational drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy.
 
Some women have started testing Viagra on themselves without the supervision of a physician.  Women who take Viagra illegally may be doing so for a number of reasons such as cashing in on the wide-spread cultural interest or simply as a recreational drug like cocaine or marijuana. Regardless of the reasons for any women taking Viagra the effects are potentially dangerous.

Are women doomed?
All is not lost! If you’re a woman and are looking to improve your sexual experience, you do have options. In fact, many natural solutions (such as supplements) have shown favorable results in both women and men, and don’t have the undesirable side effects of prescription drugs. Check out your local supplement store, or do a quick search online for some possibilities.