Some men cannot get or keep an erection firm enough to have sex. Some women have low sexual desire that causes distress.[7–8]3 of the 6 we list are FDA-approved for erectile dysfunction in men or one type of low sex drive in women before menopause: Bremelanotide, Sildenafil and Tadalafil.Of the 6 options people try for sexual health, 2 are in the Melanocortins group and 2 are in the Heart and blood vessels group.
What studies found
We have not yet summarized what studies found for these options, so this page does not compare how well they work.
How you get them
Prescription from a doctor: 3
A prescription medicine, approved for other uses: 1
No FDA-approved product in the US: 2
An FDA compounding panel has had 1 of them on its agenda for a vote on pharmacy compounding.
Some options we list
SildenafilFDA-approved for erectile dysfunction in men
TadalafilFDA-approved for erectile dysfunction in men
BremelanotideFDA-approved for one type of low sex drive in women before menopause
Each group is one kind of option. An option can be in more than one group.
Melanocortins (2)
Heart and blood vessels (2)
Sex hormones (1)
Nervous system (1)
Warnings on the label
From the Viagra prescribing information (FDA label):[2]
not for men whose heart health makes sexual activity unsafe
an erection that lasts too long, or a painful one (priapism), needs emergency care
stop it and get medical help for sudden vision loss in one or both eyes, which may be a sign of a rare optic nerve problem (NAION)
stop it and get prompt medical help for a sudden drop in or loss of hearing
low blood pressure when taken with alpha-blockers or other blood pressure medicines
ritonavir (a protease inhibitor) greatly raises the amount of this drug in the blood, which can cause low blood pressure, fainting and long-lasting erections
combining it with other drugs of the same type (including sildenafil for pulmonary arterial hypertension) or other erectile dysfunction treatments has not been studied and is not recommended; it may lower blood pressure further
bleeding events have been reported, without a proven link; its safety in people with bleeding disorders or active stomach ulcers is unknown
it does not protect against sexually transmitted infections, including HIV
From the Cialis prescribing information (FDA label):[3]
not for men whose heart health makes sexual activity unsafe
the daily form keeps the drug in the blood all the time, which matters for interactions with other medicines (such as nitrates, alpha-blockers and blood pressure medicines) and with heavy drinking
an erection that lasts too long, or a painful one (priapism), needs emergency care
stop it and get medical help for sudden vision loss in one or both eyes, which may be a sign of a rare optic nerve problem (NAION)
stop it and get prompt medical help for a sudden drop in or loss of hearing
it can add to the blood-pressure-lowering effect of alpha-blockers and other blood pressure medicines
people with reduced kidney function may need dose limits, and the daily form is not recommended for severe kidney problems
people with liver problems need dose limits or caution, and it is not recommended for severe liver problems
heavy drinking with it makes a faster heartbeat, a drop in blood pressure on standing, dizziness and headache more likely
some medicines, such as ritonavir, ketoconazole and itraconazole, raise its level, so dose limits apply
do not take it with other drugs of the same type, including Adcirca; combinations with other erectile dysfunction treatments have not been studied
it has not been given to people with bleeding disorders or significant active stomach ulcers, so their use needs caution
it does not protect against sexually transmitted infections, including HIV
before it is used for an enlarged prostate (BPH), other urinary conditions with similar symptoms should be considered, and prostate cancer can occur alongside BPH
From the Vyleesi prescribing information (FDA label):[4]
a short rise in blood pressure and drop in heart rate after each dose; not for people with uncontrolled high blood pressure or known heart or blood vessel disease, and not recommended for people at high risk of heart or blood vessel disease
dark patches, including on the face, gums and breasts, which were not confirmed to clear in everyone after stopping
nausea, the most common side effect, which sometimes needed anti-nausea medicine or led people to stop
How to get them
3 of the 6 we list are FDA-approved for erectile dysfunction in men or one type of low sex drive in women before menopause: Bremelanotide, Sildenafil and Tadalafil.FDA has also approved other drugs for erectile dysfunction that are not on this page. Two of them are vardenafil and avanafil. It has also approved flibanserin (Addyi) for the same type of low sex drive. Addyi is for women under 65, before or after menopause.[5–7]
FDA-approved for erectile dysfunction in men or one type of low sex drive in women before menopause (3): Prescription from a doctor
Approved for other uses (1): A prescription medicine, approved for other uses
Not FDA-approved (2): No FDA-approved product in the US
An FDA compounding panel has had Kisspeptin-10 on its agenda for a vote on pharmacy compounding. This is not a review for approval.
The panel voted against adding Kisspeptin-10 to the list of ingredients that pharmacies can use to compound drugs.[9]
Cost
No price shown for Bremelanotide, Sildenafil and Tadalafil on this page. This page shows no seller prices or seller links.
Ring-shaped peptide that turns on melanocortin receptors in the nervous system.
FDA-approved for erectile dysfunction in men or one type of low sex drive in women before menopause: Yes
For women before menopause with one type of low sexual desire (acquired, generalized hypoactive sexual desire disorder): it began after a time of normal desire, happens whatever the situation or partner, causes marked distress or relationship difficulty, and is not caused by another medical or mental health condition, relationship problems, or a medicine or drug; not for women after menopause or for men, and not to enhance sexual performance