relationships3 min(s) read
Women warned about side effects as 'Viagra for women' hits the shelves 30 years after male version
A long-awaited female counterpart to Viagra has finally entered the US market – but experts and consumers are eager to understand exactly how it works, how quickly it acts, and whether it carries the same risks traditionally associated with the “little blue pill”.
More than 30 years after Viagra transformed sexual health for men, women now have access to a prescription arousal-enhancing product developed by Daré Bioscience, a women’s health biotech company based in Southern California.
The new cream, branded DARE to PLAY, is the first topical sildenafil-based product designed specifically to increase blood flow and bolster arousal sensations in women.
How DARE to PLAY Works
Viagra, approved for men in 1998, uses sildenafil to increase blood circulation to support erections. DARE to PLAY uses the same active ingredient – but formulated in a topical cream that acts locally on vaginal tissue.
According to Daré Bioscience, the product begins working in as little as 10 minutes, offering a quicker response than oral medications.
Viagra has been available to treat erectile dysfunction since 1998. Credit: Peter Dazeley/Getty Images.
The company estimates that around 20 million women struggle with diminished arousal or difficulty becoming physically responsive during sexual activity. DARE to PLAY aims to provide a scientifically validated option for women, who have historically been underserved in the sexual health space.
CEO Sabrina Martucci Johnson says the release marks a long-overdue breakthrough, explaining: “When Viagra was approved in 1998, it revolutionized sexual medicine for men. But for women, comparable progress stalled for nearly three decades.
“We believe DARE to PLAY represents a long-overdue correction, giving women an option to reconnect with their own bodies, their pleasure, and their confidence.”
The cream is intended to be applied 10–15 minutes before intimacy and no more than once per day.
What Clinical Trials Found (and What Consumers Should Know)
Daré Bioscience emphasized that the product performed strongly during testing.
In clinical trials, Daré Bioscience found that arousal, desire and orgasms improved with DARE to PLAY, and there were no side effects compared to a placebo cream. It was even tested in oral sex situations.
However, women are being advised to understand how sildenafil typically behaves in the body.
Common Viagra side effects, which are typically mild and temporary, generally include headaches, flushness, indigestion, vision problems and nasal congestion, the New York Post writes.
While these weren’t observed in DARE to PLAY trials, experts say they remain important to keep in mind as the product expands nationwide.
Availability, Insurance and FDA Status
DARE to PLAY is currently available by prescription in 10 states - Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Utah - with more expected throughout December and early 2026.
Because it is a compounded medication under Section 503B, it is made in facilities inspected by the FDA – but the drug itself has not yet undergone full FDA evaluation for safety or efficacy.
The company says many patients have successfully used FSA or HSA funds to cover the $10 cost, though traditional insurance generally does not apply to compounded medications.
Daré Bioscience continues to pursue formal FDA approval, citing an extensive portfolio of toxicology research, clinical trials and peer-reviewed data.