Tadalafil For Women: Is It Safe To Use?
Tadalafil is an oral medication, used to treat ED. Although only prescribed to improve male sexual performance, there’s growing interest around potential use for females. Read on to learn more.
Tadalafil, often sold under the brand name Cialis, is a popular erectile dysfunction treatment. It’s known for its long-lasting effects in comparison to other treatments like Viagra, as it’s available in daily dose as well as an as-needed dose that lasts up to 36 hours.
Although this treatment is only prescribed to improve male sexual performance, there’s growing interest among researchers surrounding its potential use for female sexual dysfunction. Let’s take a look at the facts, with help from the ZipHealth clinical experts.
What is tadalafil and how does it work?
Tadalafil is an oral medication, used primarily for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. It belongs to a class of drugs known as phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors, which work by relaxing your blood vessels and helping blood flow through the body more easily. They help treat erectile dysfunction by relaxing the blood vessels at the base of the penis during sexual stimulation, causing an erection
Tadalafil for female sexual dysfunction
Female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD) is defined as ‘reduced sensation, pleasure, or excitement during sexual activity’. [1] Due to the lack of research in this area, it’s not currently recommended for anyone with female sex organs to take tadalafil for sexual dysfunction, as it could have adverse effects. Aside from the unknown potential side effects, it may cause those currently seen in men, such as muscle aches, stuffy nose, digestive issues, along with other more serious conditions. You can learn more about the side effects of tadalafil here. If you’re seeking support for sexual dysfunction, we highly recommend contacting your healthcare provider.
Tadalafil for pulmonary hypertension
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is high blood pressure in the lungs, which makes it harder for the heart to pump blood around the body. If untreated, it could eventually cause heart failure. [2] Due to the seriousness of this condition, tadalafil can be prescribed to women with PH, and in some cases is even prescribed to women with PH during pregnancies. [3] [4]
Does Cialis (tadalafil) work for women?
Tadalafil for female sexual function remains an understudied area, and until more research takes place, it’s not possible to safely prescribe this medication for intimate health concerns such as sexual dysfunction in women. In summary, unless recommended by a licensed healthcare provider for a condition such as pulmonary hypertension, it’s not currently advised that women use tadalafil.
To learn more about tadalafil and treatment options for erectile dysfunction, take a look at our blog here, or start a fast, free online consultation.
References
- Adebisi OY, Carlson K. Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder in Women [Internet]. PubMed. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK603746/
- Pulmonary hypertension | NHS inform [Internet]. NHS inform. 2024 [cited 2024 Aug 29]. Available from: https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/a-to-z/pulmonary-hypertension/
- GalièN, Brundage BH, Ghofrani HA, Oudiz RJ, Simonneau G, Safdar Z, et al. Tadalafil Therapy for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. Circulation. 2009 Jun 9;119(22):2894–903.
- NHS Choices. Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility while taking tadalafil - Brand names: Cialis, Adcirca [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2024 Aug 29]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/tadalafil/pregnancy-breastfeeding-and-fertility-while-taking-tadalafil/