It has been 25 years since Viagra was accredited for medical use within the UK, in addition to the US and European Union.
The model identify for sildenafil, the treatment is mostly marketed for and used to deal with erectile dysfunction.
Since its discovery and launch, creator Pfizer estimates that round 62 million males worldwide have purchased the little blue tablet.
While its efficacy towards impotence has been confirmed, analysis has additionally prompt it may produce other makes use of - with tackling interval ache amongst them.
Taking it again to when it was first developed, sildenafil was initially conceived to deal with cardiovascular problems as a result of approach it may dilate blood vessels.
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Could Viagra assist handle interval ache? (Image: Getty Images)
However, quite than dilating blood vessels within the coronary heart, it labored in one other space of the physique amongst males inflicting them to have erections.
This sparked the creation of Viagra, which Is thought to usher in greater than $1bn a yr.
And in 2005, sildenafil was accredited below the identify Revatio to deal with pulmonary arterial hypertension, a situation that causes hypertension within the lungs.
But one research, carried out in 2013, seemed into the potential of sildenafil in an typically “overlooked” space of drugs.
Period ache, or dysmenorrhea, might be extraordinarily painful and debilitating leaving the sufferer unable to hold out their normal actions - and much more so if additionally they reside with circumstances akin to endometriosis or adenomyosis.
Despite this, there is no such thing as a actual treatment for the issue, with many counting on over-the-counter painkillers and sizzling water bottles each month.
However, researchers from Croatia and the US, revealed that sildenafil may assist relieve dysmenorrhea for hours.
Woman experiencing interval ache (Image: Getty)
In a research, revealed in Human Reproduction journal and offered on the fifteenth World Congress of Gynaecological Endocrinology in 2012, they examined the results of sildenafil on 25 ladies that suffer from average to extreme interval ache.
They discovered that sildenafil offered higher ache reduction than the placebo, and “significantly” lowered individuals’ uterine artery pulsatility index - one indicator of interval ache - on the two hour mark.
The research stated: “A number of medications have been investigated to improve the treatment options for primary dysmenorrhea (PD), but most have proven unsuccessful or to have an unfavourable risk/benefit ratio.
“Since PD is a condition that most women suffer from and seek treatment for at some point in their lives, our study offers hope that vaginal sildenafil citrate is a safe and effective option for patients who do not desire or are unresponsive to treatments now available on the market.”
However, they have been unable to pursue this additional as a consequence of a scarcity of funding.
While this research suggests it may very well be secure to make use of the tablet to deal with interval ache, extra analysis on the topic is required. Express.co.uk spoke with two specialists to search out out extra.
Doctor Susanna Unsworth, gynaecologist and ladies’s well being skilled for INTIMINA, stated: “In theory, the mechanism of action of sildenafil could definitely offer a way of improving pain symptoms by improving blood flow, along with increasing relaxation in the muscular wall of the womb.
Sildenafil was originally developed to tackle cardiovascular problems (Image: Getty)
“However, based on this study alone, I would not currently consider it an option for women who are struggling with period pain as there is not enough evidence to show benefit, and there was no discussion about any associated side-effects.
“The treatment is not currently licensed to be used in this way, and larger scale testing is definitely required before it can be recommended for use.”
Dr Alexis Missick, of UK Meds, agreed. She stated: “Sildenafil has been shown to successfully reduce menstrual pain in women who have primary dysmenorrhea (Oladosu et al, 2019).
“Similarly, Dmitrovic et al (2013) found that vaginal preparation of sildenafil citrate alleviated acute menstrual pain in PD patients, with no adverse effects observed.
“Whilst Viagra (sildenafil) may improve sexual experience in healthy women, by acting on the different sexual pathways, additional studies are needed to define the use of sildenafil in clinical settings.”
Dr Unsworth advisable different choices for tackling interval ache.
“At present, there are a number of things I usually recommend to help relieve pain associated with periods,” she stated.
“Simple, self-help measures include applying heat to the low abdomen (either taking a bath/shower, or using a hot-water bottle or heat pad), massaging the lower abdomen/lower back, exercise, and even having sex can help.
“There are then over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen and paracetamol – these can be helpful, and I often recommend starting them as soon as possible with your period, ideally before the pain starts. I also suggest taking them regularly during your period so the effects do not wear off.
“However, if these measures are not enough to manage your pain, I would recommend speaking to your doctor. “
She added: “Sadly, there are many women who struggle with significant period pain without getting the help they need.
“Although there are treatments that can help, the options are limited. I feel this is definitely an area of medicine that has been poorly researched. This study dates back to 2013, and things have not really moved on since. It was sad to read this study did not reach completion, due to lack of funding.
“I imagine this was not the case when sildenafil was being trialled for erectile dysfunction – the drug was actually being trialled as a treatment for angina when this beneficial side-effect was noted. I feel this is another example of the inequalities still seen in medical trials when it comes to women’s versus men’s health.”
Dr Missick stated: “Women's health is often overlooked within medical research. Female participants are commonly excluded from medical research for illnesses that affect us regardless of gender.
“Research funding is also more likely to be allocated to male-led studies. This means that women's health is less understood.”
Viagra will not be thought of secure to take in the event you:
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