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Times of India
17 April 2009
Washington,USA

Drugs that help men in overcoming sexual disorders may also address some forms of female sexual dysfunction (FSD).

Researchers are trying to understand how and why FSD occurs in general, and the impact of vasculature (vessels that carry blood, such as arteries and veins) in particular.

New evidence suggests that female sexual dysfunction may be the result of inadequate blood supply to female genitals and could be addressed with erectile dysfunction drugs.

Originally developed as therapy for hypertension, these drugs work by dilating blood vessels sufficiently to produce erections in males. The drugs, however, have not been fully explored in females.

The researchers used an animal model and compared the effects of three drugs used for erectile dysfunction.

The drug PDE5I was used and analysed in female and male rat internal pudendal arteries. The internal pudendal artery supplies blood to the penis in men and to the vagina and clitoris in women, said a Georgia release.

The findings of this study will be presented at the 122nd Annual Meeting of the American Physiological Society April 18–22 in New Orleans.