Viagra, the popular erectile dysfunction medication, may offer benefits that are not restricted to men.
According to a new study, the drug might be helpful in reducing painful menstrual cramps, also known as primary dysmenorrheal.
The research revealed that in women 18-35, administering Viagra's active ingredient Sildenafil vaginally reduced the women's menstrual pain significantly.
Painful periods claim millions of women as victims, rendering lost many hours of work and school, the authors are hopeful about this possible new fix.
About 25 menstruating women were randomized to receive either sildenafil (vaginally) or placebo, and rated their pelvic pain over the course of four hours. Pain was significantly reduced in the group receiving the active drug, compared to the placebo group (who also saw some reduction of pain). No side effects were reported by the women.
Researchers believed that because Viagra increases blood flow to the uterus, this may be what reduces pain.
Richard Legro, author of the study told the LA Times: "It's like how a good rain can clear up smog. That said the placebo group also experienced increased uterine blood flow, so it's a bit unclear what's actually behind the pain-reducing effect of Viagra."
Painful periods are ubiquitous among women, and though there can be other, more serious causes, upwards of 90% of women may experience regular old primary dysmenorrhea.
"If future studies confirm these findings, sildenafil may become a treatment option for patients with PD," said Legro, professor of obstetrics and gynecology and public health sciences at Penn State College of Medicine. "Since PD is a condition that most women suffer from and seek treatment for at some points in their lives, the quest for new medication is justified."
It's worth noting that the study was relatively small. That more work may be needed to see whether there's a real effect. Oral administration of Viagra for menstrual cramps has been evaluated in the past, but it has been linked to unwanted side effects like headaches. It's also unknown whether vaginal administration of the drug might change the menstrual flow.
