The erectile dysfunction medication Viagra may ease cramps for women, according to a new study reported on by the Los Angeles Times.
The new research, published in the journal Human Reproduction, reports that the main ingredient in Viagra, called sildenafil citrate, can alleviate moderate to severe menstrual cramps in women.
Sildenafil citrate treats erectile dysfunction by dilating blood vessels. But for women, this dilation near the uterus can ease acute menstrual pain. Researchers from Penn State College of Medicine studied 25 women between the ages of 18 and 35 who suffered from menstrual cramps. Some of the women were issued a dose of sildenafil citrate, while others were given a placebo. The women who took the sildenafil citrate reported significantly greater pain relief than those who didn’t take it.
The findings are still preliminary, and the study needs to be repeated several times to confirm the findings. But the results are encouraging for women in need of monthly relief.