A doctor has warned about the dangers of women taking Viagra after a surge in interest in the drug and a report by LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor showing that 13% wrongly believed that Viagra is safe for women to use, with 67% saying they do not know if it is safe or not.
Viagra is a well-known drug for treating erectile dysfunction in men but GP Dr Bhavini Shah said; “Viagra has been shown to be ineffective in women who have sexual difficulties.” Dr Shah added: “Taking Viagra can be risky for both men and women. Viagra can lower blood pressure, and cause side effects such as headaches, feeling sick or nauseous, and dizziness. It can also interact with other medicines in dangerous ways..”
Dr Shah said:“We know that Viagra works in men by increasing the blood flow to the penis which is important for male sexual function.However, in the female body, increased blood flow to the genitals is only one of the factors that contributes to a good sexual experience.Viagra does not increase sex drive or desire: so in other words, if you are not interested in sex, taking Viagra won’t make any difference.”
“Many women have difficulties with sex at some stage in their life and for most this is temporary. In most cases relationship difficulties, partner issues, life stresses, or even recently having a baby can contribute to this. But if you’re finding sex is more of a chore than a pleasure, these feelings have been occurring for a long time, or it’s affecting your relationship you could be experiencing female sexual dysfunction (FSD).
“FSD affects around 40% of women. You may experience a loss of libido, have difficulty reaching orgasm, or find sex is uncomfortable or painful. The term FSD is usually used when these issues have occurred for over six months.”
Neither men nor women should not take Viagra if:
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They have low blood pressure
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Have an existing heart problem
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Have an eye disease such as retinitis pigmentosa
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Are taking certain medications such as nitrates
Dr Shah said: “If you’re looking forViagraoptions for women to help treat female sexual dysfunction or low sex drive, you may have heard about female Viagra.Female Viagra isn’t really a thing in the UK, as there aren’t any approved medical treatments for women. In the US and other parts of the world there are treatments such as Flibanserin.
“When searching for female Viagra you may also spot herbal products with impressive claims. However, these aren’t proven to be effective or safe.”
Flibanserin (Addyi)
“Flibanserin is licensed in the USA for the treatment of female sexual dysfunction. It’s been called ‘women’s Viagra’ but this is very misleading as it acts on the brain, while Viagra acts directly on the blood flow to the penis. Flibanserin was developed as an antidepressant, and it can help improve libido. It is licensed for premenopausal women who have no other physical reason for low libido, such as a medication side effect, a chronic illness or cancer treatment.
“The evidence for its effectiveness is not strong and points to, if anything, only a small increase in sexual activity in women taking Flibanserin. Side effects of Flibanserin include dizziness, fainting, drowsiness, nausea, and fatigue. Flibanserin is not currently available in the UK, mainly because of the risks of side effects. In the US it’s sold under the brand name Addyi.”
Lady Era
Also labelled as ‘female Viagra’ Lady Era is a drug aimed at women that claims to treat low sex drive. It contains the same active ingredient as Viagra – sildenafil.
Dr Shah said: “Sildenafil works in men by increasing blood flow to the penis helping men achieve and keep an erection. Lady Era may also increase blood flow to women’s genitals which is thought to improve arousal. However, studies into the effect of sildenafil in women are limited. Products that contain sildenafil will only be safe for women to use if your doctor has prescribed it.
“Lady Era may cause many of the same side effects in women as sildenafil does in men, including; headache, facial flushing, nausea and dizziness. Sildenafil can also react with other medications and isn’t safe for people to use if they have heart problems. Lady Era is not available in the UK. For medication approved in the UK, it must undergo stringent testing to make sure it’s safe and works, which hasn’t yet been proven for Lady Era.
Lady Era and Flibanserin are not available in the UK. Outside of the UK, both Lady Era and Flibanserin require consultation with a clinician, who will determine if the medication is suitable for them.