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

Cavalcanti, Ana L.; Bagnoli, Vicente R.; Fonseca, Ângela M.; Pastore, Roberto A.; Cardoso, Eduardo B.; Paixão, Jucilene S.; Soares, José M.; Saad, Fabrício; Baracat, Edmund C.

doi:10.1016/j.ijgo.2008.03.020

« Previous Next »International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics
Volume 102, Issue 2 , Pages 115-119, August 2008

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

Ana L. Cavalcanti
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of São Paulo, Brazil
Vicente R. Bagnoli
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of São Paulo, Brazil
Ângela M. Fonseca
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of São Paulo, Brazil
Roberto A. Pastore
- Department of Radiology, University of São Paulo, Brazil
Eduardo B. Cardoso
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of São Paulo, Brazil
Jucilene S. Paixão
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of São Paulo, Brazil
José M. Soares Jr.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of São Paulo, Brazil
Fabrício Saad
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of São Paulo, Brazil
Edmund C. Baracat
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of São Paulo, Brazil
- Corresponding author. Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 255, 05403-000, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Tel./fax: +55 11 3069 7621.

Received 27 December 2007; received in revised form 25 March 2008; accepted 25 March 2008. published online 12 May 2008.

Abstract

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.