Effect of sildenafil on clitoral blood flow and sexual response in postmenopausal women with orgasmic dysfunction.

Author(s): Cavalcanti AL, Bagnoli VR, Fonseca AM, Pastore RA, Cardoso EB, Paixao JS, Soares JM Jr, Saad F, Baracat EC

Affiliation(s): Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Publication date & source: 2008-08, Int J Gynaecol Obstet., 102(2):115-9. Epub 2008 Jun 26.

Publication type:

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effects of sildenafil citrate on clitoral blood flow and sexual response in postmenopausal women with orgasmic dysfunction. METHOD: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial 22 women received a 50-mg dose of sildenafil (n=11) or placebo (n=11) daily for 15 days. The Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction (GRISS) was used for subjective evaluation of the sexual-response cycle. Clitoral blood flow was measured by color and pulse Doppler at baseline, after 1 hour of taking the first dose, and after 15 days of treatment. RESULTS: Blood flow was significantly more improved in the sildenafil than in the placebo group (P<0.05), and a positive correlation between Doppler values and GRISS scores was noted in the sildenafil group after only 15 days of treatment. CONCLUSION: Sildenafil may improve clitoral blood flow and increase the GRISS scores in postmenopausal women with orgasmic dysfunction.