In the UK alone, two million women are currently living with, or have lived with, an erectile dysfunction (ED). That’s one in ten of the population. And it’s something that has a significant impact on their daily lives.
Men, you might be thinking, what’s going on here? After all, you’re twice as likely to experience ED as your female counterparts. Well, the difference is that while women are more likely to self-diagnose and discuss their sex-related issues with their partners, men are much more likely to keep such problems to themselves.
The stigma that surrounds ED is something that Dr Louise Cook, a psychologist specialising in sexual dysfunction, highlights. She says, “Women are much more likely to be embarrassed about their sex lives and to feel that they have to keep their struggles with erectile dysfunction to themselves.”
But what is causing this epidemic of ED? And is there a way that women can overcome it?
Here, we probe into the inner workings of the ED drug market in the UK and abroad, its impact on women, and what could be done to prevent it in the future.
The Rise in Female-friendly ED Drugs
While there are already a number of treatments available for ED, including behavioural therapy, exercise, and diet changes, none of these are exactly…well, gentle. In fact, many of the treatments for ED can be extremely physically taxing, especially for women who already have a hard time keeping up with their daily activities due to health issues.
And that’s why, in the last few years, there has been a proliferation of ED drugs designed with a female user in mind. Developed with an understanding of how women’s bodies differ from men’s, or with the specific needs of women with different health issues in mind, these drugs aim to provide a more comfortable, enjoyable experience for those who take them.
Currently, there are four prescription-only ED drugs authorised for use in the UK. These are Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, and Staxyn. (Alprostadil, Caplesil, and Madopar are also available as a prescription-only drug in some countries, but are not currently authorised for use in the UK).
Let’s take a closer look at what is special about these drugs and why they are more appealing to women than their counterparts.
The Promise of a Non-Drowsy Effect
Something that all of these drugs have in common is that none of them causes drowsiness. This is good news for women who don’t want to risk falling asleep during the day, as this can cause a host of problems, including an increased risk of injury from a car accident. (Or, at the very least, an impaired ability to perform everyday tasks).
According to a report published by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in February 2020, there were 447,000 cases of unintentional drug overdoses involving opioids in the US in 2019, a 13% rise from 2018. (A 2019 study published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology also reported that 23.4% of patients taking opioid-based medication experienced a drug-induced sleep onset).
While these statistics are concerning, they are not quite as severe as they could be, due to the existence of overdose-reversal drugs, such as Naloxone. But still, these cases highlight the need for safe and effective alternatives to opioid-based medication, particularly among women.
Allowing for More Convenient Dosage
Since these drugs are, for the most part, prescription-only, or at least require a prescription, it is in the interests of the pharmaceutical companies to develop a range of options for consumers.
The sooner a drug is developed for use, the sooner it can be prescribed and the more patients it can help. Currently, many of the prescription-only erectile dysfunction drugs are available in a variety of different dosage forms, including tablets, liquids, and implants.
This, in turn, makes it much easier for doctors to determine the correct dosage for their patients. (Especially those with differing medical histories and co-morbidities).
Treatments That Are More Comfortable For The Patient
For some, the discomfort of taking a pill every day for erectile dysfunction, for example, can be mildly disconcerting. Especially if that pill happens to be on the bulky side. (And let’s face it, many of the available erectile dysfunction drugs are quite large, owing to the fact that they contain active pharmaceutical ingredients, such as sildenafil or tadalafil).
But since many of these medications are more effective when taken regularly, most patients will find that the benefits outweigh the minor discomfort. Also, some of these treatments, such as Viagra and Cialis, have additional benefits, such as the ability to prevent or treat heart disease and high blood pressure. (So, not only are you helping your erection problems, you’re also potentially preventing or delaying the onset of other chronic diseases.).
Where Do These Drugs Come From?
While pharmaceutical companies produce these drugs in factories all over the world, the process of manufacturing them is highly specific and entails a great deal of expertise. (Sometimes a lot of money as well).
Because they are made of organic compounds, many of these drugs are, therefore, prone to degradation. (This means that they are very vulnerable to being damaged or destroyed during the manufacturing process, or by extreme environmental conditions, such as moisture or heat).
In order to ensure the quality and safety of these medications, stringent regulatory controls are in place throughout a drug’s lifecycle. (Starting with its inception, all the way through to its eventual disposal).
The Impact of Viagra on Women
If you’re a woman and you’re reading this, you might be wondering what effect, if any, Viagra has on you, the female user. Let’s examine this question, beginning with an overview of what is known about Viagra and how it functions in the body.
How Does Viagra Work?
Viagra is a medicine that acts by improving blood flow to the penis, resulting in an erection that can be sustained for as long as you desire. (In rare instances, it has been known for a man to die from a heart attack shortly after an erection lasting more than four hours).
In order to understand its effects on women, we need to look briefly at how it works in men, and then consider how these might be altered in the case of female users. It’s a fairly straight-forward process, but there are a few key differences that you need to be aware of.
The Most Notable Difference
The first and most obvious difference between Viagra in men and Viagra in women is that the former is orally administered while the latter is taken by injection. (This is because it would be quite difficult for a woman to consume huge amounts of sildenafil, the chemical compound that makes up Viagra, due to its size and the fact that it is a tablet).
That being said, much can be accomplished by orally administering Viagra in women. Just be sure to practice safe sex, by using a condom and avoiding pregnancy, as this is one of the major risks associated with taking Viagra without a prescription, particularly in the case of those who are already sexually active.
Other Considerations
Beyond these risks, there are a number of other considerations that you need to take into account when assessing the effects of Viagra in women. The dosage that is advised for women is actually half that of the dose typically used for men. (This is due to the fact that, on average, women have lower blood pressure than men and also have smaller penises and need less medication).
Additionally, there is some evidence to suggest that, for the same reason, women may need to try a different medication to obtain the same benefits as men. (This is not something that the makers of Viagra advise, however, as they claim that the drug is effective in both men and women, and is also fairly safe when used as directed).