Viagra for females
Over the years, with growing age women have experienced low sex drive often due to changes in relationships, stress and physical changes like pregnancy and menopause. This condition is called hypoactive sexual desire disorder. About 10% of women experience low sex drive and often take viagra to treat it. Hypoactive sexual desire disorder is also called female sexual interest/ arousal disorder.
Flibanserin (Addyi) and bremelanotide (Vyleesi) are two drugs approved by FDA (Food and drug administration) that address low desire or arousal in females but both the drugs are approved for use only in women who have not yet entered menopause.
What is Vyleesi ?
Vyleesi is used to treat FSIAD in premenopausal women. It is injected in thighs or stomach before 45 minutes of having sex. Its effect lasts for about 24 hours. This is recommended not to use it more than eight times in a month.
What is Addyi ?
Addyi is also a drug approved by FDA for treating FSIAD in premenopausal women and it comes in pills. This medicine is to be taken daily before going to bed even if there's no sex that day. It takes 8 weeks to show effect in increasing sexual desire. Some people see results sooner.
How do female viagra work?
Addyi changes the brain's serotonin system and affects your dopamine. Low sex drive is linked with serotonin level in brain while dopamine is linked with pleasure and motivation.
Vyleesi targets melanocortin receptors (linked to sexual function) by modulating brain pathways.
Both Addyi and Vyleesi boost the activity of chemical messengers in your brain, called neurotransmitters, that are key to helping you feel aroused. You take addyi every day, whether you plan to have sex or not. You inject Vyleesi only when you need it. It’s important to note that both the drugs does not makes sex better. They just make you more likely to feel the mood.
How long does its effects last?
Addyi lasts for around 11 hours and it can last for 26 hours if a person has even a mild liver problem. Vyleesi lasts around 2.7 hours; it takes 6.5 hours to clear the body.
Who could benefit?
Vyleesi and Addyi treat FSIAD in premenopausal people as no research has tested the drug in people during or after menopause.
The female sexual experience involves various kinds of different factors. These are:
Biological: Factors such as hormone changes, anatomical features, and medical conditions affect sexual response.
Psychological: Depression, anxiety, trauma, and negative thoughts or memories may affect sexual activity.
Interpersonal factors: Relationship, including the quality of communication, with a partner can be a factor.
Sociocultural factors: Some examples include a person’s thoughts and attitudes about sex and about changes to their body, as well as social, cultural, and religious values and beliefs about sex.
There are no normal number of sexual thoughts or experiences. And there is no clinical point reported at which sexual desire becomes low. A person has low libido because they feel distressed by what they consider a lack of interest in sex.
A person who may benefit from “Viagra for women” is someone who feels that their sex drive is low and wants to have more of it.
What are the side effects of female viagra?
Addyi has following side effects:
drowsiness
dry mouth
nausea
dizziness
fatigue
insomnia
Some people should avoid Addyi :
those with liver conditions
those taking oral contraceptives
those taking CYP3A4 inhibitors
those who are nursing
those who have taken alcohol in the last 2 hours
Addyi can cause severe low blood pressure and fainting in people who take it with alcohol or who have liver conditions.
Vyleesi has following side effects :
nausea and vomiting
flushing and hot flashes
irritation or a rash at the injection site
headache
flu-like symptoms
fatigue
dizziness
darkening of the skin which results in dark spots called hyperpigmentation on the gums, face and breasts
high blood pressure
a decreased heart rate
tingling
Vyleesi could reduce the efficiency of oral medications due to slower emptying of the gastric system. It can also make drugs containing naltrexone to treat alcohol and opioid addiction less effective, so it is advised that anyone taking a drug that contains naltrexone should avoid Vyleesi.
Vyleesi and Addyi can also cause allergic reactions.
How to access these drugs ?
Any person can buy these drugs online but this is not recommended due to a lack of safety protocols on websites.
But any person concerned about their sexual health can talk to a health care professional for advice and information.
Can any supplements boost libido?
Libido-boosting supplements may contain ingredients in prescription drugs that are not advertised on the supplement's labels hence it is warned to not take them.
However, premenopausal females taking dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA, supplements have reported improvement in their sexual function.
Conclusion
Viagra for women are available as Addyi and Vyleesi and could be taken by any premenopausal women as it is not seen as effective in other women. These have a few side effects but can treat FSIAD in women. A person may experience sexual dysfunction at any age. Medication cannot treat all causes of low sexual desire. A knowledgeable, compassionate healthcare professional could be a help to address concerns and recommend next steps.
References
https://www.healthline.com/health/viagra-for-women#challenges
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326478#summary