The May 2005 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine contained an article on Viagra titled “Viagra: Is It Good For You, Too?” The article talked mainly about men taking Viagra but included a paragraph regarding women taking Viagra.
Although the article states that Viagra is successful in increasing the blood flow to a woman’s genitals, it also said that female libido requires more than increased blood flow to become aroused.
The thought of women taking Viagra was pretty much dismissed in the 2005 article but in a newer article written by Kathleen Doheny in 2008, titled, "Erectile Dysfunction Drug Also Helps Women With Antidepressant-Related Sexual Problems," Viagra is presented as a viable solution to amp up the sex drive of women taking antidepressants.
The information in the 2008 article written by Kathleen Doheny talks about an interesting Web MD study conducted on 98 women who were taking antidepressants.
When given Viagra 72% of the woman in the study were more likely to experience orgasms. Although the studies found that the Viagra did not increase the desire to have sex it did give them a better chance to experience an orgasm. Here's a quote from the Web MD study:
''Seventy-two percent of the women on Viagra vs. 27% of the women on placebo got to 'much improved' or 'very much improved' on a scale [of sexual functioning],'' says Harry A. Croft, MD, medical director of the San Antonio Psychiatric Research Center in Texas and a co-author on the study.
The reviewer of the WebMD study Dr. Goldstein, says that she prescribes Viagra for women. So although Viagra has been viewed as a medication for "men" perhaps further studies should be conducted to see how Viagra can help to improve the sex lives of women, especially those on antidepressants.
Hopefully more quality studies and information on women taking Viagra will be published in the near future.
Comments