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Is there a Viagra for women?

There’s no doubt about it: Viagra, the “little blue pill” is one of the most famous medications out there. But what about Viagra for women? Is there an equivalent and if so, how does it work?

The answer is both simple and complicated. Short answer: no, there is no Viagra for women. Instead, several medications have earned the name because they treat female sexual dysfunction, despite working quite differently from the original.

Read on to learn more about the two prescriptions most frequently dubbed female Viagra, how they work and what options there are for you if you’re looking for a little pink pill.

Medically reviewed by

Daniel Atkinson, GP Clinical Lead

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Medically reviewed by

Dr Daniel Atkinson

GP Clinical Lead

on November 18, 2022.

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What does female Viagra do?

The FDA approved Addyi was quickly nicknamed ‘female Viagra’. But unlike Viagra, Addyi (flibanserin) works to treat low libido in women. An actual female Viagra pill would be trying to make it more physically comfortable for women to have sex. And it’s been pointed out that there’s already a pretty simple solution for this – lube.

Addyi was originally developed as an antidepressant. It targets neurotransmitters in your brain. Here it increases the release of dopamine and norepinephrine, which are linked to arousal, and lowers the release of serotonin, which is connected to inhibition. So although Addyi might be referred to as “female Viagra,” it doesn’t work like male Viagra at all.

Can women just take regular Viagra?

No. Viagra is only licensed for use in men and is not approved as a treatment for women.

Because Viagra increases blood flow to the genitals, there have been theories that it could increase pleasure during sex for women. However, studies analyzing the impact of Viagra on female sexual dysfunction have not produced consistent, promising results.

Who is female Viagra for?

There are two prescription medications in the US that are commonly referred to as “female Viagra”: Addyi (flibanserin) and Vyleesi (bremelanotide). These medications, however, are fundamentally different from Viagra.

Here’s how. When a man is prescribed Viagra, he still has a normal libido — meaning, he still wants to have sex. It’s just that the actual, physical mechanics of sex need a little help. Female Viagra, in contrast, is a treatment for low libido. That means it’s intended to boost desire, rather than make sex physically possible.

You might be looking into treatment if you’ve been diagnosed with female sexual disorder, or low libido. The specific type of low libido that Addyi and Vyleesi address is called Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder, or HSDD. Both Addyi and Vyleesi are only approved to treat HSDD in pre-menopausal women.

Addyi vs Vyleesi: What’s the difference?

Because Addyi was approved first, it’s usually what people think of when they hear the term “female Viagra.” However, there is now a second treatment called Vyleesi which also treats HSDD in women.
Neither Addyi nor Vyleesi do the equivalent of what Viagra does for men — make sex physically possible. Instead, they work on neurotransmitters in the brain to help make you more aroused. Addyi comes in a pill form, and Vyleesi is an injection.

More about Addyi (flibanserin)

Addyi is a non-hormonal drug made by Sprout Pharmaceuticals to treat Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder, or HSDD, in women. It’s a pink pill you take every day.

Addyi works on the chemicals in your brain. It turns down the ones responsible for inhibition, and cranks up the ones responsible for arousal.

Addyi has a number of side effects, like dizziness, faintness, and a drop in blood pressure. The risk of side effects increases if you take hormonal birth control or drink alcohol, so women who are prescribed Addyi are asked to abstain from alcohol and certain medications.

Do I have any other options?

If you’re looking for “female Viagra” home remedies, your best bet is to pinpoint the cause of low desire before trying to treat it. While there are a number of herbal products that claim to increase female sexual function, these are not licensed or authorized treatments.

What is Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD)?

According to the International Society for Sexual Medicine, there are four basic questions that can tell you if you’ve got HSDD.

In the past, was your level of sexual desire/interest good and satisfying to you?
Has there been a decrease in your level of sexual desire/interest?
Are you bothered by your decreased level of sexual desire/interest?
Would you like your level of sexual desire/interest to increase?

If your sex drive is lower than it used to be and that fact makes you unhappy, you might have HSDD.

Asexuality vs HSDD

One of the criticisms of HSDD is that it’s difficult to quantify desire — especially since sex occurs not in a vacuum but in a society that has some very complicated feelings about desire, particularly women’s desire. In order to be diagnosed with HSDD, you must experience both a lower sense of desire than you had in the past and distress at this new, lower desire.

But if desire exists on a continuum, how low is too low? And how much of the distress element of an HSDD diagnosis comes from outside sources (“I wish my sex drive were higher to please a partner” or “Society makes me feel like my sex drive should be higher”) vs something internal?

The truth is, “there’s no set norm for how much interest you are supposed to have in sex,” writes Dr. Heidi Collins Fantasia in Nursing for Women’s Health. Some people identify as asexual, and view their (lack of) desire as an orientation and not a condition to be cured.

Can you increase your sex drive?

Sex drive is incredibly complex, as you can tell by the media attention around “fixing” it. The best way to increase your sex drive, or stop it from being low, is by taking care of your health and wellness. Easier said than done, right?

“I agree with the view that our perception of our own bodies plays a significant role in sexual desire,” says Dr. Laura Castaneda. “This idea is supported by many studies showing that becoming more aware and mindful of the body, and viewing our bodies non-judgmentally, can be a way to really tune into arousal. So, ultimately, while a pill might help get our neurotransmitters going, the rest is up to us!”

Like your mood, your sex drive responds to your general wellbeing. Unhealthy habits like smoking and heavy drinking can reduce your interest in sex, so try cutting back on the weekend binge eating and keep to a mostly-healthy diet with treats in moderation.

Stress and depression can also cause a lower sex drive. While stressful situations are not always under our control, do what you can to reduce stress in your life, get a good night’s sleep, enjoy the outdoors when possible and make exercise a daily habit, even if it’s just fifteen minutes of stretching or a walk around your neighborhood. If you think you’re experiencing depression, talk to your doctor. They might have suggestions for treatment, possibly including medication.

Some medications can also change your desire for sex. Many women find that some types of birth control lower their sex drive, in which case it might be worth trying a different prescription.

Birth control? Tell me more.

It’s true — the pill you take to keep you protected against pregnancy might be making you want to have less sex. And while that’s certainly one way to keep from becoming pregnant, it’s probably not what you had in mind.
Because there are so many different types of birth control, and they each impact the hormones already in your body, the way you react to one might be completely different from how you react to another. They’ll all be equally effective at preventing pregnancy, but different pills can cause or treat acne, increase or decrease your appetite, stabilize or worsen your moods and, yes, change your sex drive.
If you’re taking hormonal birth control and think it might be negatively affecting your sex drive, it’s time to find another pill.

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Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please talk to a doctor.