Viagra may not only be useful for the male gender. A new study has revealed that the erectile dysfunction medication may help to relieve women’s menstrual cramps, Medical Daily reported.
Researchers at Pennsylvania State University showed that when administered vaginally, sildenafil citrate (brand name Viagra) can help relieve primary dysmenorrhea (PD) – a monthly pain in the lower abdomen caused by hormone-like substances called prostaglandins.
For the study, the scientists recruited women between the ages of 18 and 35 who suffered from PD. Of the study group, 25 women were randomly selected to receive either sildenafil or a placebo. Then once the medication had been inserted vaginally, the women were asked to rate their pain over the next four hours. The women who received sildenafil reported relief without any side effects.
The researchers said that Viagra may alleviate PD symptoms, because it can lead to blood vessel dilation. They noted that more research is needed to confirm the medication’s benefits, but they feel the research is important enough to pursue.
"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," said Richard Legro, professor of obstetrics and gynecology and publich health sciences at Penn State College of Medicine.
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