Sildenafil is the active ingredient in Viagra, the wildly popular pill used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. It is effective in temporarily improving men’s inability to get or maintain an erection hard enough for sexual intercourse, as well as their low sexual desire, or low libido.
However, men are not alone in their sexual dysfunctions. Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is described as “persistent, recurrent problems with sexual response, desire, orgasm or pain — that distress you or strain your relationship with your partner.” It is estimated that close to half of all women report experiencing some type of sexual dysfunction at some point in their lives.
Female Sexual Dysfunction Can Include:
- Low sexual desire
- Sexual arousal disorder
- Orgasmic disorder
- Sexual pain disorder
While women experience sexual dysfunction at similar if not greater rates than men, their treatment options are far inferior. Hopefully, that will soon change, as a new medication is about to enter Phase 2 of the FDA’s required trials to get treatments on the market.
Sildenafil Cream: A Non-Pill and Noninvasive Alternative for Women
Daré Bioscience is the latest company to propose a treatment for FSD. What makes its treatment different, however, is that the medication is a cream instead of a pill or an injection. The cream would work in a similar way to Viagra. Women would apply it to their genital tissue, which would increase blood flow in that localized area, ideally increasing women’s overall sexual experience.
If approved by the FDA, Dare’s product would be the first medication approved to specifically treat female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD). The initial testing results are promising. Though tested amongst a small sample of six women, all participants experienced significant increases in genital temperature after applying the cream, suggesting an increase in genital blood flow. So, what’s next for the treatment?
Passing FDA Standards
Dare’s sildenafil cream passed the FDA’s first phase of clinical trials, meaning that an appropriate dosage was determined for the medication. Now, the drug moves into Phase 2 of testing. In Phase 2, the cream will be tested in a much larger sample of participants, likely a few hundred people. To continue on to Phase 3, the cream must be determined to be as effective as or more effective than similar drugs used to combat female sexual dysfunction.
Hope for Women on the Horizon
With Dare Bioscience’s Sildenafil cream, treatments for female sexual dysfunction just got a lot more exciting. The cream has the promise to be a great alternative to existing options already available on the market. For instance, the cream is a much less painful option than Vyleesi, which requires women to inject themselves with medication 45 minutes before sexual activity is to occur. Another benefit of the cream is that it doesn’t require a daily application to be effective, unlike Addyi, which requires women to take a pill daily.
Regardless of the Sildenafil cream’s outcome in clinical trials, it is clear that women need better alternatives to treat sexual dysfunction. Hopefully, this is just the start of noninvasive, promising options for women.
Kwynn holds a Master of Public Health and is currently pursuing a PhD in Social Work. Her research examines the intersections of health, technology, and gender-based violence.