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Q: Female Viagra, what does it do?
A: Female Viagra, otherwise known as Aadyi, is a medication, created in the US, which has been proven to increase arousal and sexual desire in women. In clinical trials, approximately half of the women tested reported a boost in desire. No commonly available in Australia, women are able to purchase the drug over the Internet.
Viagra was discovered in 1989 by American pharmaceutical company Pfizer when looking into treatment for heart-related chest pain.
But it was more than 25 years later, in 2015 that Aadyi, the female equivalent of Viagra was finally allowed onto the US market.
While it’s not yet available in Australia, there is growing interest in the area of female pleasure with more and more women seeking to increase their sex drive.
According to a 2017 study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, almost 70 per cent of Australian women aged 40-65 years old reported a lack of sexual desire.
In a population sample of 159 Swiss women aged 18 to 73 years old, about two-thirds (61%) said they were “rather willing” or “definitely willing” to take a sexuality-boosting medication.
In another study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, in a population sample of 159 Swiss women aged 18 to 73 years old, about two-thirds (61%) said they were “rather willing” or “definitely willing” to take a sexuality-boosting medication.
But what exactly is Aadyi, how you do get it, what is the price and what happens when you take it?
We uncover all the answers to your burning questions about Viagra for women…
What is the difference between male and female Viagra?
The pink pill versus the blue pill!
Both Viagra and Aadyi may claim to give men and women an increased sex drive, but, in fact, the medications could not be more different.
Not only are their chemical make ups completely different, but they actually trat completely different issues.
Viagra treats erectile dysfunction, a physical symptom, while Aadyi treats hypoactive sexual desire disorder, a mental condition characterised as a lack or absence of sexual fantasies and desire for sexual activity.
Viagra increases the blood flow in a male, a biological function, while Aadyi changes brain chemistry.
Can women take Viagra for men and what happens?
In short, yes.
Technically women can take Viagra and they too will notice an increased blood flow in their erectile tissues – for example the clitoris.
However, as women general require both physical sexual response as well as
When a woman takes Viagra, she increases blood flow to her erectile perceived/emotional sexual response, in order to be aroused.
However, a recent study found some interesting results.
According to ABC News, the 12-week study focused on 202 post-menopausal or post-hysterectomy women who complained of female sexual arousal disorder.
The women in the group who took Sildenafil — the little blue pill commonly known as Viagra — took notes after each sexual experience, and reported better overall sexual satisfaction compared with those who took a placebo.
“In terms of ability to achieve orgasm, there was a statistically significant movement,” professor Laura Berman, who led the study, told ABC News.
“It increases blood flow to the genital area, increases the sensation of warmth, tingling and fullness,” she said.
What is female Viagra?
Commonly known as Aadyi, the generic name for ‘female Viagra’ is flibanserin.
Developed by Boehringer Ingelheim, the harmeceutical company was forced to abandon their research after a negative evaluation by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The rights were then transferred to Sprout Pharmaceuticals who gained approval to sell lady Viagra in the US in 2015.
A pink-coloured tablet, the medications common side effects include dizziness, sleepiness and nausea.
A prescription non-hormonal pill, also not a natural female Viagra, women are required to take the tablet every day at bedtime.
Users are required to take the regular dose for at least a month before full side effects will be apparent.
According to the company’s website, Addyi is believed to work on the part of the brain involved in sexual motivation and response though it’s exact mechanism of action is not fully understood.
Does it work?
Yes and no.
During clinical trials, half of those receiving Aadyi reported an increase in the number of times they had “satisfying sexual events” compared to placebo.
While it’s true some women noticed a difference in their sexual desire, it has not been proven to work for all users.
In short, this is not a medicine for instant female arousal.
What happens when you take it? What are the effects?
In clinical studies with Addyi, some women experienced improvement in one or more of their HSDD symptoms, including:
- Increased sexual desire
- Increased number of times in a month that a woman had satisfying sexual intercourse or engaged in other satisfying sexual activity, such as oral sex, masturbation, or genital stimulation by a partner
- Decreased distress associated with low sexual desire
The majority of side events have been reported as mild to moderate. The most commonly reported adverse events included dizziness, nausea, feeling tired, sleepiness, and trouble sleeping.
Drinking alcohol while on Aadyi may result in severely low blood pressure, hence drinking is not advised for women taking the medication.
How much does it cost and how do I buy it?
While Aadyi is not available in Australia, a number of online pharmacies and chemists offer the medication which can be shipped here.
One outlet offered one tablet for $AU7.52 – which if taken every day for at least a month, as is recommended, adds up to more than $AU225.
In the US, according to Aadyi’s website, if a woman’s commercial prescription insurance covers Addyi, they will pay no more than $US25/month for their prescription (less than $US1/day).
If their commercial prescription insurance does not cover Addyi, or if they pay cash, they will pay no more than $US99/month out of pocket for their prescription (less than $US4 per day) using the home delivery service.
Currently, Aadyi is very difficult even to get in the US, with only specialty pharmacies stocking it.
An Addyi-certified pharmacist must also authorise the script.
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