The question of “What happens if a woman takes Cialis?” is best answered by referring to credible studies. After all, Cialis is a prescription medication and is not given to just anyone who wants it.
This article aims to inform you about the effects of Cialis on women so that you can make appropriate decisions.
Cialis Background
Cialis is manufactured to treat these male-specific conditions:
- Erectile dysfunction (ED) or impotence
- Some symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or enlarged prostate
The drug’s main ingredient is tadalafil, which is a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor. It prevents the action of phosphodiesterase, a chemical substance that affects the smooth muscles that line blood vessels. The reduction of its activity causes blood vessels to widen.
The result of this is two-fold (1):
- Blood entering the penis increases
- Blood going away from the penis decreases
Although blood vessel widening generally increases blood flow, the blood becomes retained within the penis when the veins press against the engorged erectile tissue.
Tadalafil treats ED and BPH by relaxing the smooth muscles in the prostate and bladder.
Since it also affects smooth muscles in other parts of the body, tadalafil is sometimes used to help manage other conditions like pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) or high blood pressure within the arteries of the lungs and the heart’s right side (2).
There’s convincing evidence that tadalafil may improve exercise capacity and the blood circulation of the heart and lungs of those with PAH. Men with PAH are more likely to benefit from this treatment, however (3).
What Happens If a Woman Takes Cialis
Cialis is known as a sexual enhancer more than anything else. Some research studies suggest that PDE5 inhibitors like Cialis may help with sexual concerns in both males and females (4).
A review of female sexual dysfunction treatments states that PDE5 inhibitors increase arousal in women (5).
The second review of tadalafil experiments involved tadalafil given once daily or on-demand to menopausal and post-menopausal women. It concluded that the drug may effectively improve sexual desire, arousal, climax, and satisfaction.
However, the review mentions that the studies had few participants and had no placebo controls or objective measures (6).
In a review of 16 studies, it is noted that women who were given tadalafil consistently experienced genital swelling, but only some reported an improvement in their sexual functioning.
This discrepancy has been explained as a result of gender differences in sexual responses. The review concluded that pharmacological treatment alone may be insufficient to treat female sexual dysfunction (7).
A study of diabetic premenopausal subjects revealed that tadalafil has an engorging effect on the clitoris. However, sexual behavior and function were not investigated because of lack of time (8).
It has been suggested that medical interventions for sexual disorders could be supported by psychological management to achieve better results. This includes anxiety management, sex therapy, couples therapy, and behavioral therapy (9).
When sexual dysfunction is caused by anti-depressant medication, tadalafil is discovered to be effective among men, but Bupropion at high doses is more successful among women (10).
Cialis and Female Urinary Problems
Tadalafil shows promise in treating overactive bladder (OAB). Ninety-six Chinese women with OAB were included in the study; some of them received a low dose of tadalafil daily, while others were given a placebo.
After 3 months, it was found that those who obtained the drug had significantly improved their urinary function, while those who got the placebo didn’t show an obvious improvement.
More specifically, the tadalafil group experienced a decrease in the frequency and urgency of their urination and a reduction in incontinence. They were able to pass more urine and had increased bladder capacity (11).
Cialis and Preeclampsia
Pregnant women with preeclampsia may benefit from tadalafil.
In a safety trial, 8 preeclampsia patients were given tadalafil; none of them demonstrated severe side effects, and only a few complained of headaches. One of them had palpitations that went away on its own after three days. All of the unborn children were unaffected by the drug (12).
Tadalafil prolonged the pregnancy of a woman with severe preeclampsia (PE). The mother also developed lower blood pressure.
Although tadalafil is not usually prescribed to pregnant women, some consider it a potential treatment for prolonging a preeclampsia patient’s pregnancy (13). It may help treat fetal growth restriction as well (14).
Cialis Side Effects on Women
So far, the available studies do not reveal that there are significant differences between what men and women may experience from tadalafil. However, like with other medications, higher doses may accompany worse symptoms.
In the preeclampsia study, 10 mg/day of tadalafil didn’t cause any side effects; from 20 mg/day to 40 mg/day, one case of palpitations and three cases of headaches were recorded (15).
Aside from headaches, tadalafil is associated with the following side effects most frequently (16):
- Back pain
- Dyspepsia (stomach pain)
Worse but less common side effects are as follows:
These effects may be caused by tadalafil affecting the smooth muscles in areas of the body other than what is targeted by the user.
Overall Effects of Cialis on a Woman
Cialis or tadalafil is created to address male sexual problems, but its blood vessel-widening effect found other applications. Studies on women have mixed results, but they do show promise. Perhaps Cialis may eventually be approved for female use after more studies are carried out.
Whether you’re male or female, though, it’s still best to consult your physician to know whether Cialis is right for you. This will help you avoid experiencing side effects, and you will receive more appropriate treatments. In the case of sexual disorder, it may be best to seek psychiatric help as well.
If you still want to get Cialis without a doctor’s approval, here are some things that may help:
- Get low doses (10 mg a day may be suitable)
- Take only one tablet per day
- Pay attention to any unpleasant side effects
- Seek immediate help when you experience troublesome symptoms
- Buy Cialis only from reliable sellers to avoid receiving fake products
“What happens if a woman takes Cialis?” Well, we hope that we’ve sufficiently answered that question. If you want to know more, however, kindly leave your question/s in the comment box below.