The famous little blue pill Viagra (sildenafil) treats erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. ED is the inability to attain or sustain an erection hard enough for making love. Viagra helps treat ED by boosting blood flow to the penile organ.
There is no FDA-approved sildenafil drug for women with sexual dysfunctions. However, in the United States, the FDA has approved two different drugs to treat low sexual drive in women, with some people calling them “Female Viagra.”
Also known as hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSSD), sexual arousal disorder affects more than 10% of women. Some women take Viagra without a prescription to treat low libido.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved flibanserin (Addyi) and bremelanotide (Vyleesi) to treat HSSD.
Sildenafil, flibanserin, and bremelanotide are completely different drugs. Therefore, the so-called Female Viagra is completely different from Male Viagra in terms of active ingredients and pharmacological action.
Female Viagra drugs that treat low sexual drive have different effects on women.
Vyleesi, which helps boost sexual drive in women, is injected an hour before indulging in sexual activity, just like Male Viagra that is taken orally.
Unlike Vyleesi, Addyi is available in a pill form, which is to be taken once daily, even if a woman does not intend to make love. With Addyi, women may take up to 7 to 8 weeks to notice an improvement in their sexual desire, though some may experience the effects much sooner.
Remember, the FDA has not approved sildenafil for women with low sexual desire. However, some women still use Viagra, off-label, to treat HSSD.
In men, Viagra boosts blood flow to the penile organ, causing an erection during sexual stimulation. So in theory, women may also experience an increased blood flow to the genitals with Viagra.
The action mechanism of Addyi is unknown but it is presumed that it works on the brain’s serotonin system. Serotonin is linked to sexual desire in women. Also, Addyi has an indirect effect on another brain chemical called dopamine, which is associated with pleasure and motivation.
Similarly, the action mechanism of Vyleesi is unknown but it is presumed to have effects on melanocortin receptors, which increases sexual desire. So, the conclusion is Female Viagra (Addyi or Vyleesi) is completely different from Male Viagra. Simply put, the so-called Female Viagra has an action on the nervous system, while Male Viagra has an action on the body’s circulatory system.
