Scott Weaver
Updated at: October 17, 2024 · 5 min read
Does Viagra work for women?
Often referred to as the magic blue pill, it’s no wonder that women are wondering if they can get in on the action that has revolutionised the sex lives of so many men. But is it that simple and can Viagra really work for women too?
Key Takeaways
Viagra doesn't work for women:
Viagra is designed to help men maintain an erection by increasing blood flow to the penis, but it doesn't have the same effect for women. It doesn't enhance libido, sexual pleasure, or desire for either gender.
Low libido in women has various causes:
Women experiencing low libido might be dealing with mental health issues (like stress or depression), hormone changes (due to contraception, pregnancy, or menopause), or relationship problems. Viagra won’t help with this, but a doctor may offer solutions.
Vaginal dryness can be addressed with other treatments:
Women dealing with vaginal dryness may benefit from gels like Vagisan or Vagisil. Dryness can be linked to hormone changes, medications, or lack of foreplay, but Viagra is not a solution for this problem.
Does Viagra work for women?
Quite simply, no, unfortunately it doesn’t. Viagra is not any kind of sexual enhancer beyond the way in which it works to maintain an erection. It doesn’t make you want sex, it doesn’t increase pleasure, it doesn’t affect your libido and it doesn’t assist without sexual stimulation. Simply put, Viagra (and the generic Sildenafil) works by relaxing the muscle walls in the blood vessels of the penis to help a man maintain an erection.
Women, on the other hand, don’t require trapped blood in order to have sexual intercourse. In fact, there would be very little that would actually prevent a woman from being able to have sexual intercourse so the chances are that women wondering if they can take Viagra are looking for help with one of two things…
Women with low libido
If the problem is that you simply aren’t wanting to have sex then this could be due to any number of reasons (none of which that Viagra can assist with unfortunately). Fluctuations in libido are perfectly normal and happen to both men and women, particularly as they get older.
However, if your libido is consistently low then this could be related to mental health issues such as anxiety, stress, poor body image or depression. It can also be related to physical health issues like underlying medical conditions or certain medications.
It’s not always related to your health though; low libido can be caused by hormone changes (like a new contraceptive pill, pregnancy or menopause), sexual problems or relationship issues. It’s always worth speaking to your partner about any change in libido and if it persists or worries you then speak to your doctor.
Women with vaginal dryness
Another sexual problem that women may be hoping that Viagra can help with is sexual function. Plenty of women still have a high sex drive but find that their body isn’t cooperating when they want it to.
Women may experience vaginal dryness for any number of reasons and again, this can be heavily linked to hormone changes, certain medications or health conditions. Most commonly, vaginal dryness is caused by a lack of foreplay so this can be something to work on and talk about with your partner.
If vaginal dryness is causing your discomfort or pain then you may benefit from a gel such as Vagisan or Vagisil. If you’ve noticed it may be linked to your contraceptive pill or HRT medication then you may wish to discuss swapping this with your doctor.
How does Viagra work for men?
Viagra (Sildenafil) works by blocking the action of PDE-5 - an enzyme that breaks down the substance that relaxes your smooth muscles in order to cause an erection. By stopping the breaking down of this substance, men are able to achieve and maintain an erection.
Active in around 30 minutes, Viagra can help a man to achieve an erection at any point in the next 5 hours while the drug remains active in his body.
Where can I buy Viagra?
Viagra (Sildenafil) is a prescription-only medication that can be bought from UK Meds without an existing prescription. Simply fill out an online consultation, a registered prescriber will assess it and if successful, your medication will be delivered to your door.
Medically Reviewed by:
Dr. Alexis Missick MBChB. MRCGP
GMC reference no: 7151419
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Blog author
Scott Weaver
Scott is an experienced and professional content writer who works exclusively for UK Meds.
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