Female viagra is a bit of sci-fi myth cloaked by clever marketing. You may be curious to find out the truth if female viagra actually work on women.
The first FDA-approved female viagra known as Flibanserin (product name: Addyi) was introduced in 2015 that claims to increase sexual libido. Despite its origin as an anti-depressant drug, bad reviews and a host of other FDA warnings, Addyi continued to be a popular viagra for women until recent years.
Meanwhile, Tongkat Ali is a popular natural female viagra for pre and postmenopausal women who want a safer option compared to HRT, or TRT. Tongkat Ali took the top spot amongst other natural viagras with its array of clinically tested health benefits for women that is backed by 300 research studies in the last two decades.
However, does female viagra work? And how does it work?
Now, this article will provide more insights into the myths behind female viagras and natural viagras for women. Our insights on female viagras will set expectations when meeting your demand for more sexual desire.
This will enable you to find the best female viagra that works on you.
There are two types of female viagras that are commonly used by women.
Note: Female viagras work on the same principles by arousing sexual desire through the activation of sex and mood hormones in your brain.
Ingredients: 5-HT1A agonist and 5-HT2A antagonist. Inactive ingredients include lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, hypromellose, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, talc, macrogol, and the coloring agents, titanium dioxide and iron oxide.
Affected Hormones: dopamine, serotonin
Ingredients: Bioactive ingredients include eurycomanone, eurypeptides (group of quassinaoids, alkaloids), glycosaponin and polysacharrides. 100% natural ingredients.
Affected Hormones: dopamine, cortisol, testosterone, progesterone, estrogen
In principle, female viagra functions by increasing or suppressing the production of hormones in our body through the pituitary or adrenal glands.
In general, dopamine, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone was found by scientists to produce an excitatory role in promoting sexual desire.
On the other hand, hormones such as serotonin, prolactin, and opioids play an inhibitory role.
From our assessment, most studies on female libido boosters are hormone related.
The science behind female viagra is anchored on the consensus by medical experts that various endogenous hormones, including estrogen, testosterone, progesterone and prolactin, may influence female sexual function.
Flibanserin (ADDYI)
Flibanserin or addyi is designed to alter women’s brain chemistry (hormones) over time to help increase sex drive. According to medical health experts, addyi increases dopamine and suppresses serotonin.
Addyi was originally developed and evaluated as an antidepressant. It works by affecting the brain’s chemical messengers.
Doctors recommends Flibanserin to treat Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) in premenopausal women despite FDA’s warning on its risks and side effects.
Unlike Viagra for men, Flibanserin (ADDYI) does not spark an immediate physical change in the body in women.
Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma Longifolia)
Tongkat Ali is a natural herbal supplement used to boost sexual desire for women by restoring key hormones in women’s reproductive system and the Central Nervous System.
Consuming Tongkat Ali releases more testosterone and estrogen in ovaries and pituitary glands, which are closely linked to women’s libido and fertility.
Simultaneously, Tongkat Ali releases dopamine (feel-good-hormone) in your Central Nervous System (CNS) and reduces cortisol (i.e stress hormone). The good thing is that Tongkat Ali does not suppress serotonin or cause any surge in adrenalin.
The result is an improved sexual desire that is coupled with feel-good calming vibes. In other words, Tongkat Ali reduces the time for women to get “into the mood” due to optimal hormonal balance in the endocrine system.
So, taking Tongkat Ali may arouse women more easily!
This makes both Tongkat Ali and Flibanserin ideal for women with HSSD.
Female viagras such as Addyi are heavily marketed after its launch in 2015 to treat symptoms related to Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSSD).
HSSD is caused by any of the following factors:
Some of the root causes of HSSD are related to hormonal deficiency or hormonal imbalance. This causes symptoms such as anxiety, lack of interest (or motivation) in sex, mild depression that disrupts sexual mood, stress, tiredness and others.
The origin of Addyi as an antidepressant drug may work well on women experiencing HSSD, although the effectiveness and efficacy are rather murky.
Here is the science behind how female viagra work in reality. Female viagras work by altering the brain neurotransmitters so that you are “easily excited / aroused” when subjected to physical or emotional responses (by your partner or by other external stimuli)
Let’s dive into two common female viagras.
Flibanserin
According to former editor at Scientific American, exactly how Flibanserin restores sexual desire in women is rather “murky”.
Flibanserin’s mechanism of action is reported to have an effect on the neurotransmitter dopamine; a hormone that modulates motivation and reward by binding with dopamine receptors.
It also suppresses serotonin, a neurochemical linked to appetite and feelings of fulfillment or satiety—by acting on serotonin receptors. Lower serotonin is linked to better sex drive.
Calling Flibanserin (Addyi) a “female Viagra” is misleading
In reality, Addyi female viagra was tested on 6,000 women with disappointing results.
Researchers in the Netherlands found Flibanserin’s efficacy was underwhelming and did not improve sexual desire. This clinical study was published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Tongkat Ali
Tongkat Ali may be used as a libido booster for women. It has a more rounded effect to the female endocrine system which includes the Central Nervous system (CNS) and the female reproductive system.
When taken daily at the right dosage, Tongkat Ali helps to release more brain cortical dopamine; i.e a feel-good hormone in the Central Nervous System (CNS) that cause women to feel more excited and motivated.
At the same time, Tongkat Ali promotes the release and the production of testosterone, and estrogen in your ovaries.
Tongkat Ali is clinically tested to reduce cortisol (i.e stress hormone) that results in better mood, reduced cognitive stress, anxiety, tension and depression.
The compounded effect from Tongkat Ali on women is on improved sexual mood, which is reported by many on forums such as Reddit.
Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone all affect sexual desire and arousal. Having higher levels of estrogen in the body promotes vaginal lubrication and increases sexual desire
Tongkat Ali is an ideal female libido supplement to those seeking for a natural viagra that also improves overall hormonal balance, and not just limited to arousing sexual desire.
Dosage for Flibanserin (Addyi)
The recommended dosage of Addyi is 100 mg taken once daily at bedtime, for 4 to 8 weeks.
Dosage for Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma Longifolia)
The recommended dosage of Tongkat Ali is 100 – 200mg taken once daily for 4 to 8 weeks, with 1 week OFF/ON cycle.
There are however common side effects if you are taking female viagra regularly. Physicians recommend taking Flibanserin daily to get the best results. However, be prepared to experience side effects and risks from taking Flibanserin. These include:
There have been major safety concerns highlighted by FDA regarding Flibanserin too. Some of the risks of taking synthetic female viagra include:
There are other risks concerns when taking Flibanserin with other medications.
Your doctor will recommend you not to take flibanserin if you are taking any of the following medications or have taken them in the last 2 weeks:
As for Tongkat Ali, it is generally not recommended for breastfeeding mothers or pregnant women as it may disrupt the testosterone and estrogen hormones during pregnancy.
As a general precaution, it is not recommended to take any form of female viagra when you are pregnant or when you are breastfeeding
Choosing the best female viagra can be rather tricky.
However, the best female “viagra” is Tongkat Ali as it produces the most impact to your sexual libido without any risks of side effects such as passing out, dizziness and other risks that can affect your health.
Plant-based natural viagra is undoubtedly gaining more popular each day, with more people switching from antidepressant flibanserin / addyi to Tongkat Ali.
Flibanserin was originally developed as an antidepressant drug by pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim
Based on consumer feedback conducted with 3,251 female survey participants, 80% of women prefer taking natural supplements or natural viagras to boost their sexual libido.
Many women reported that synthetic female viagra such as Aadyi did not work on them. Flibanserin recently received more negative reviews amongst women between 35-54 years of age.
Aadyi received tons of bad reviews due to negative side effects (Source: WebMD)
Addyi doesn’t work on me. Tongkat Ali does a better job as female viagra to improve my sexual mood.
Tongkat Ali is clinically tested on women, hence why this herbal supplement is preferred by busy female professionals who seek to achieve a better sexual mood profile, with reduced anxiety, tension and depression. That may help to spice up bedroom activities for most women.
To get the best results from Tongkat Ali, do check out when to use it and the best situations that you can benefit the most from Tongkat Ali.
Desire for sex is based on a complex interaction of many things affecting intimacy, including physical and emotional well-being.
Female viagra does work to improve sexual desire in women albeit with different mechanism of actions compared to male viagras.
The best female viagra like Tongkat Ali is the best choice for most consumers. It may induce stronger sexual desire from the release of sex hormones at various glands, thus making it a strong proposition to those who are experiencing low sex drive due to hormonal deficiencies.
Tongkat Ali is clinically tested brand with 20 years of research and more than 26 clinical tests on women.
Whether you are choosing Flibanserin / Addyi, or Tongkat Ali, do give it a try and share with us your experience.
If you are curious how Tongkat Ali affects young women, you may find our female review on Tongkat Ali useful.
And don’t forget to check out other useful resources on female viagra at WebMD too!
Naressa Khan contributes regularly on AKARALI. As a researcher and investigative journalist specializing in nutrition and natural wellness, Naressa is all about creating, deconstructing, and reassembling meaningful content through words and facts. With this approach always in mind, she eagerly explores the nuances in life via the aspects of lifestyle, culture, travel, health, and wellness in Malaysia .
Disclaimer:
The content published on this website is for educational purposes and should not be viewed, read, or seen as a prescription or constitute any form of medical advice. We recommend you consult your nearest GP or doctor before consuming female viagra including Tongkat Ali or any products which contain Tongkat Ali. For further information regarding women’s libido or Tongkat ali, kindly refer to our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for more information.
