In its clinical trials, Pfizer wanted to determine whether the drug could essentially have the same impact on women as it does on men, which is to increase blood flow to the genital area. In men, this allows for an erection to be sustained. They hoped that in women, it would spur sexual arousal.





The viagra research team showed that the same enzyme inhibitor that affects blood flow to the penis also affects pelvic blood flow in women. However, they failed to find a connection between increasing blood flow to the pelvis and increasing sexual arousal in women.





Why does female viagra not exist?




Sexual dysfunction in women is more complicated than in men, as it is not purely a physical problem. Oftentimes there are emotional or psychological factors that play a role. This means that a drug like Viagra would not necessarily be helpful in women.





Sexual dysfunction in women




It has been estimated that 43 per cent of women suffer from some type of sexual dysfunction. Researchers at the University of Chicago compare this rate to only 31 per cent of men experiencing similar sexual problems.





Female sexual dysfunction is defined as either: lack of arousal, orgasm, or desire. The most commonly reported problem is lack of desire, whereby women complain that they are either uninterested in sex or that it provides little pleasure for them.





Some fairly common factors that may affect a woman's sexual activity, and are related to mental and psychological issues, include: fatigue, depression, relationship or family concerns, financial or job pressures, and illness or death.





There are also physical problems that can affect sexual health, including: diabetes, cancer, heart disease, thyroid disorder, certain prescription and non-prescription drugs, and drug or alcohol abuse.





Who can female Viagra help?




In some cases ? for example, in instances where a woman's sexual dysfunction is caused as a side effect of using a different medication, researchers have concluded that a Viagra pill for women may actually be effective.





Female Viagra could also help the 20 per cent of women whose sexual dysfunction is reportedly caused by physical factors like insufficient lubrication during sex. In this case, increasing blood flow to the pelvic area would help.





Alternative remedies




While there is not a Viagra equivalent for women, there are other treatments available that work in essentially the same manner, though they have not been scientifically proven.





L-arginine amino acid cream may be used to increase vaginal blood flow, enabling higher arousal and stronger orgasms. Informal studies at the New York School of medicine showed a 70 per cent success rate when 500 women tested the use of this cream.





DHEA supplements may be used to increase the production of estrogen by the ovaries, something which depletes with age. While minor studies have shown this type of hormonal treatment to increase sexual desire in women, the side effects can be serious. For instance, there is the risk of heart attack and breast cancer. These supplements should be taken only under the strict monitoring of a doctor.





A third option is testosterone therapy, which may be relevant for women who have had one or both of their ovaries removed.





Natural remedies




Oftentimes, when women are suffering from sexual dysfunction, the best treatments can be non-medicinal. Exercise, counselling, and the use of over-the-counter vaginal lubricants can be excellent alternatives to drugs that act as female viagra.