Viagra Studies

Viagra - Investigational Use

Ever since Viagra has been introduced in the market there have been continuous research undertaken to study the other various possibilities of the treatment with Viagra. Just as males suffer from male sexual dysfunction females too have their own problems as far as their sex lives are concerned.

The women anatomy and the sexual response of a woman in a given situation is quite difficult to understand. It has always been felt that women too need something like Viagra to help them fight female sexual dysfunction. Although not approved for use in women, clinical studies have shown that sildenafil citrate or Viagra may be effective in relieving female sexual dysfunction for some women. In one study, both female and male study participants who suffered from sexual dysfunction related to their use of such psychotropic medications as benzodiazepines reported an increase in arousal and overall sexual satisfaction when they began taking Viagra. Several studies have also indicated the drug may be effective in improving libido and arousal in women taking selective serotonin uptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Another possible use of sildenafil in women is the treatment of infertility. Women who have had repeated failures with in vitro fertilization (IVF) due to poor development of the tissue that lines the uterus may benefit from treatment with vaginal suppositories containing sildenafil. One study reported that 70% of patients had a significant thickening of the uterine lining, with 29% having a successful implantation of a new embryo, and 45% achieving ongoing pregnancies.

Another investigational study conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore , and published in the August 2000 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation found that Viagra may have additional clinical promise for people with diabetes beyond treating ED.

In animal studies, Viagra was effective in relaxing the pyloric muscle of stomach, improving digestion and relieving the symptoms of gastroparesis. Up to 75% of people with diabetes suffer from gastroparesis, which causes bloating, nausea, loss of appetite, and vomiting. Further human studies are needed to evaluate Viagra's effectiveness in treating this common diabetic complication.

Because of its capacity to enhance nitric oxide production, sildenafil has been investigated as a possible treatment for other disorders that are caused by impaired nitric oxide production. One such disorder is esophageal motility dysfunction (achalasia), in which the smooth muscles of the esophagus and the cardiac sphincter remain constricted, causing difficulty in swallowing, regurgitation of food, and chest pain when eating. A study published in 2000 in the journal Gastroenterology found that sildenafil temporarily improved the condition in some patients by relaxing the lower esophageal muscles. An Italian study reported in 2002 that sildenafil shows genuine promise as a treatment for spastic esophageal disorders.