The little blue pill that many men turn to for relief from their erectile dysfunction might also help to alleviate menstrual cramps. A new study conducted by Pennsylvania State University found that sildenafil citrate, which is sold under the brand name Viagra, might help to relieve primary dysmenorrhea (PD) when administered vaginally.
"If future studies confirm these findings, sildenafil may become a treatment option for patients with PD," said Richard Legro, professor of obstetrics and gynecology and public health sciences at Penn State College of Medicine.
The research team led by Legro recruited women 18 to 35 years old who suffered from moderate to severe PD. Twenty five of the women were randomized to receive either sildenafil or a placebo drug vaginally. For the next four consecutive hours patients rated their pain and those who took the sildenafil felt relief without any side effects.
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