Information on Viagra for women.   

It is interesting to note that compared to 31% of men, 43% of women suffer from one or more forms of sexual dysfunction. Although many women are unaware of the fact, it is possible for women to take Viagra, and for many it can be effective. The Food and Drug Administration has not yet approved Viagra for women, but doctors can prescribe it for both sexes. According to Pfizer, the drug's manufacturer, Viagra has been prescribed for some 150,000 women. 

Viagra works for both men and women by increasing the blood flow to the genitals. Women need this blood flow, just as men do, to achieve sexual arousal. Pfizer researcher Dr. Irwin Goldstein said he and his colleagues at Boston University Medical Center have not done a Viagra study with women, but says they have prescribed the drug to some 50 female patients. He said it has worked for most of them. "It has shown evidence of enhanced lubrication, less pain, more arousal, less problems with orgasm," Goldstein said.

What Is VIAGRA?

VIAGRA is a pill used to treat erectile dysfunction (impotence) in men, and occasionally can be used to treat sexual dysfunction in women. It can help many men who have erectile dysfunction get and keep an erection when they become sexually excited (stimulated). For women, Viagra can work to increase blood flow to the genitals and help in releasing hormones which raise a women's interest in sex.


What about Viagra for women?

Viagra is what is known as a type five phosphodiesterase inhibitor. Preliminary studies in women are currently underway and while there is no answer at the present, there is information that indicates that, at least in a clinical setting, the results have been quite astounding. Some physicians have already admitted to using Viagra in women. A Boston University study is currently underway to determine whether or not Viagra can help restore sexual pleasure among women who are taking it. Viagra’s manufacturer, Pfizer, Inc., is now in the midst of clinical trials in the United Kingdom. If studies prove successful, and many believe that they show great promise, these tests will be expanded to include thousands of women under the tough protocols required for FDA approval.

How VIAGRA Works

VIAGRA enables many men with erectile dysfunction to respond to sexual stimulation. When a man is sexually excited, VIAGRA helps the penis fill with enough blood to cause an erection. After sex is over, the erection goes away. This effect is similar in women, and research studies reveal a woman's genitals will remain engorged and dilated with increased blood flow for up to six hours after taking Viagra.

VIAGRA Is Not for Everyone

As noted above, ask your doctor if your heart is healthy enough for sexual activity.

If you take any medicines that contain nitrates – either regularly or as needed – you should never take VIAGRA. If you take VIAGRA with any nitrate medicine or recreational drug containing nitrates, your blood pressure could suddenly drop to an unsafe level. You could get dizzy, faint, or even have a heart attack or stroke. Nitrates are found in many prescription medicines that are used to treat angina (chest pain due to heart disease) such as:

* nitroglycerin (sprays, ointments, skin patches or pastes, and tablets that are swallowed or dissolved in the mouth)
* isosorbide mononitrate and isosorbide dinitrate (tablets that are swallowed, chewed, or dissolved in the mouth)

Nitrates are also found in recreational drugs such as amyl nitrate or nitrite (“poppers”). If you are not sure if any of your medicines contain nitrates, or if you do not understand what nitrates are, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

VIAGRA is only for patients with erectile dysfunction. VIAGRA is not for newborns, children, or women. Do not let anyone else take your VIAGRA. VIAGRA must be used only under a doctor’s supervision.

What VIAGRA Does Not Do

* VIAGRA does not cure erectile dysfunction. It is a treatment for erectile dysfunction.
* VIAGRA does not protect you or your partner from getting sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV—the virus that causes AIDS.
* VIAGRA is not a hormone or an aphrodisiac.

What To Tell Your Doctor Before You Begin VIAGRA

Only your doctor can decide if VIAGRA is right for you. VIAGRA can cause mild, temporary lowering of your blood pressure. You will need to have a thorough medical exam to diagnose your erectile dysfunction and to find out if you can safely take VIAGRA alone or with your other medicines. Your doctor should determine if your heart is healthy enough to handle the extra strain of having sex.

Be sure to tell your doctor if you:

* have ever had any heart problems (e.g., angina, chest pain, heart failure, irregular heart beats, heart attack or narrowing of the aortic valve)
* have ever had a stroke
* have low or high blood pressure
* have a rare inherited eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa
* have ever had any kidney problems
* have ever had any liver problems
* have ever had any blood problems, including sickle cell anemia or leukemia
* are allergic to sildenafil or any of the other ingredients of VIAGRA tablets
* have a deformed penis, Peyronie’s disease, or ever had an erection that lasted more than 4 hours
* have stomach ulcers or any types of bleeding problems
* are taking any other medicines


Finding the Right Dose for You

VIAGRA comes in different doses (25 mg, 50 mg and 100 mg). If you do not get the results you expect, talk with your doctor. You and your doctor can determine the dose that works best for you.

* Do not take more VIAGRA than your doctor prescribes.
* If you think you need a larger dose of VIAGRA, check with your doctor.
* VIAGRA should not be taken more than once a day.

If you are older than age 65, or have serious liver or kidney problems, your doctor may start you at the lowest dose (25 mg) of VIAGRA. If you are taking protease inhibitors, such as for the treatment of HIV, your doctor may recommend a 25 mg dose and may limit you to a maximum single dose of 25 mg of VIAGRA in a 48 hour period. If you are taking alpha-blocker therapy, you should not take a dose of greater than 25 mg of VIAGRA at the same time (within 4 hours) as your dose of alpha-blocker.


Possible Side Effects

Like all medicines, VIAGRA can cause some side effects. These effects are usually mild to moderate and usually don’t last longer than a few hours. Some of these side effects are more likely to occur with higher doses. The most common side effects of VIAGRA are headache, flushing of the face, and upset stomach. Less common side effects that may occur are temporary changes in color vision (such as trouble telling the difference between blue and green objects or having a blue color tinge to them), eyes being more sensitive to light, or blurred vision.

In rare instances, men have reported an erection that lasts many hours. You should call a doctor immediately if you ever have an erection that lasts more than 4 hours. If not treated right away, permanent damage to your penis could occur.

Heart attack, stroke, irregular heart beats, and death have been reported rarely in men taking VIAGRA. Most, but not all, of these men had heart problems before taking this medicine. It is not possible to determine whether these events were directly related to VIAGRA.

VIAGRA may cause other side effects besides those listed on this sheet. If you want more information or develop any side effects or symptoms you are concerned about, call your doctor.

Viagra Alternatives - Do they work?

It is estimated that just under half of all women suffer from some or other sexual dysfunction. Men have used many methods of boosting sexual power for years while women have been left without help. It's only after the arrival of Viagra that the need for a product like Viagra to treat female sexual dysfunctions became pressing and imperative.
Is there a Viagra alternative for women?

Yes, there are many alternatives to Viagra available to women. The most popular are:

We hope you find this information useful and use it to choose whatever works best for you in your efforts to regain a happy sex life. Congratulations in taking this most important step in giving yourself the satisfaction you deserve. You're worth it!   - Thanks and best of luck!
Sylvia Powers, M.D.