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  • Review Article
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Sildenafil citrate for female sexual arousal disorder: a future possibility?

Nature Reviews Urology volume 6, pages 216–222 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD) is a common disorder encountered in clinical practice, with self-reported arousal difficulties reported in up to 26% of American women. Various oral therapies for FSAD have been studied, including sildenafil citrate, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor that is currently used to treat male erectile dysfunction. In vitro studies of sildenafil citrate have demonstrated smooth-muscle relaxation in clitoral tissue, and phosphodiesterase type-5 has been shown to be present in vaginal, clitoral and labial smooth muscle; these findings have led to theories that sildenafil citrate might be successful for treating FSAD. This Review discusses the data from clinical trials that have assessed sildenafil citrate for the treatment of FSAD; the trials show that sildenafil citrate is moderately effective. Sildenafil citrate may also be effective in women with FSAD secondary to multiple sclerosis, diabetes or antidepressant use; however, more trials in these patient populations are required to confirm these findings.

Key Points

  • Female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD) is common

  • Preclinical studies have shown that phosphodiesterase type-5 is present in vaginal, clitoral and labial smooth muscle, and that sildenafil citrate can relax clitoral tissue

  • Evidence from randomized controlled trials shows that sildenafil citrate is moderately effective in treating FSAD

  • Sildenafil citrate may be effective in patients with FSAD secondary to multiple sclerosis, diabetes or antidepressant use; however, more trials in these patient populations are required to confirm current findings

  • Sildenafil citrate has a good safety profile in both women and men

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Figure 1: Mechanism of sildenafil citrate in promoting smooth-muscle relaxation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA

    Corina Schoen & Gloria Bachmann

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Correspondence to Corina Schoen.

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Schoen, C., Bachmann, G. Sildenafil citrate for female sexual arousal disorder: a future possibility?. Nat Rev Urol 6, 216–222 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrurol.2009.25

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