Viagra Benefits Women on Antidepressants

Pfizer released Viagra in 1998 for men, and not long afterwards, Pfizer began to study its use for women. In a recent blog entry, editors at Health Science News discussed Viagra and women, the pros and cons of Viagra and women, in addition recently it has been revealed in other studies that documentation points to the success of Viagra in the female population.

Women With Depression Benefit from Viagra

Women who are suffering from depression may also have the unpleasant side effect of decreased libido. The women examined in these recent studies were in their pre-menopausal years and were also being treated for their depression with anti-depressant medication. It is important to note, however, that the women's depression was in remission.

Leading researcher of sexual medicine at the Alvarado Hospital, which is located in San Diego California, Dr. Goldstein has treated women by prescribing Viagra, and he noted that there are a lot of similarities between men and women regarding their sexual drive.

Viagra and women

Study Reveals Hope for Women Who Suffer From Depression and Decreased Sex Drive

The study conducted separated women participants into two different groups, one group which was asked to take the drug Viagra up to two hours prior to sexual activity for a period of eight weeks. The second group of female study participants was given a placebo and both groups were tested.

At the conclusion of the study, it was discovered that over seventy percent of the women who were given Viagra showed increased sexual desire, while only twenty percent of the female participants who were given the placebo showed improvement.

Study Concludes - Testosterone the Key

Dr. Goldstein noted that the key is testosterone levels and as long as women do not have health issues with testosterone, the drug can help them combat reduced libido.

More Studies Back Up Goldstein's Findings

Yet another study, which was conducted in Italy on female diabetics, found similar results - that women with normal testosterone levels were helped with Viagra.

The Director of the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University, which focuses on Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction, Julia R. Heiman, found that sexual side consequences of antidepressants can make such an impact on women's lives that they actually discontinue their use, which can put them at risk for increased depression symptoms.

The study's findings revealed that Viagra could counteract the decreased sexual effects, said Dr. Andrew Leuchter, who is a leading professor of psychiatry at the UCLA medical center. Dr. Leuchter was not involved in the study.

Mixed Reviews

There are mixed reviews on the issue of Viagra and women’s use. A leading endocrinologist, who is chairman of the department of medicine at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, noted that Viagra could possibly not work as efficiently as it did in the studies. Real world results could be less prominent. And the side effects of women who use Viagra are not without notice. For example, some women who took the Viagra drug reported headaches or even flushing. Dr. Glenn Braustein noted that these effects could have affected the study because the participants might have realized that they had taken Viagra due to the side effects, and this realization could have affected their sexual performance.

Dr. Braustein noted that these studies are provocative and stated that he would like to see more studies that could confirm the same results in larger groups of women.

Consult a Professional

Women should be cautioned that rather than asking their partner for a Viagra pill, they should instead consult with a professional if they are considering the pros and cons of Viagra.

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