Photo: Courtesy Of Pfizer.
Ok, brace yourselves, people, here comes a weird one. So, we've heard of women taking Viagra (remember that Sex and the City episode?). Research-wise, there is evidence that the little blue pill can significantly increase orgasms among women taking serotonin reuptake inhibitors (a.k.a. anti-depressants), which can decrease libido. But, a new study from the Penn State College of Medicine has found another handy use for the drug: It can also be used as an effective treatment for menstrual cramps.
The study, which was published in the journal Human Reproduction, involved 25 women between the ages of 18 and 35 who reported moderate to severe pelvic pain. Each subject received a dose of either Viagra or a placebo, and were asked to rate their pain over the next four hours. In almost all cases, the Viagra group experienced a significant reduction in their symptoms.
Unfortunately, there is one (kind of major) caveat. While taking Viagra orally did prove modestly effective at relieving cramping, many patients experienced side effects, including severe headaches that made the method less than optimal for regular use. Instead, for this study, doctors administered the medication vaginally, which eliminated the side effects.
Oh, one more minor issue — Viagra happens to cost almost $30 a pill. Maybe stick to Midol? (Salon)