Is there a Viagra for women? Not in Australia. Viagra "is not indicated for use by women", and the two medicines called "female Viagra" — flibanserin (Addyi) and bremelanotide (Vyleesi) — are United States approvals that are not on the Australian register. Neither works like Viagra: both are for low sexual desire, both labels say they are not for enhancing sexual performance, and how they work is not known.
Can women take Viagra?
It is not approved for them. The Australian product information states that Viagra "is indicated for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in adult males" and "is not indicated for use by women" (Viagra PI), and the leaflet adds that it "will not increase your sex drive" (Viagra CMI). Sildenafil has been tested for sexual dysfunction in females: in a trial of 781 women with arousal problems, the differences between sildenafil and a placebo "were not significant for any patient or partner end points" (Basson et al., 2002). Women do take sildenafil for one condition: under the trade name Revatio, it treats pulmonary arterial hypertension, high blood pressure in the lungs (healthdirect — Sildenafil). More in can women take Viagra safely?
What is "female Viagra"?
Usually flibanserin. healthdirect puts it this way: "If you have heard about 'female Viagra', it is probably referring to a medicine called flibanserin (also known by its brand name, Addyi)", approved in the United States for premenopausal women with low sexual desire; and "Flibanserin is not an approved prescription medicine in Australia" (healthdirect — Sildenafil). The medicine most often called the female version of Viagra is not the same kind of medicine at all, as is female Viagra the same as male Viagra? explains. The nickname "pink pill" has its own page: what is the pink pill?
How does flibanserin (Addyi) work?
Nobody knows exactly. Flibanserin (Addyi) is a 100 mg tablet taken once a day at bedtime, not before sex. Its US label treats a specific diagnosis, hypoactive sexual desire disorder: low desire "that causes marked distress or interpersonal difficulty" and is not due to another medical or psychiatric condition, relationship problems or a medicine. Since December 2025 the label covers women under 65, not only premenopausal women; it is "not indicated in men" and "not indicated to enhance sexual performance". Its mechanism of action "is not known"; in laboratory tests it acts on serotonin receptors (Addyi US label).
It carries a boxed warning: alcohol taken close in time "increases the risk of severe hypotension and syncope" — a big drop in blood pressure and fainting — and so do some other medicines and liver disease. The most common side effects include dizziness, sleepiness, nausea and tiredness (Addyi US label).
What is bremelanotide (Vyleesi)?
An injection used before sex. Bremelanotide was approved in the United States in 2019 for premenopausal women with the same desire disorder, and its label excludes women after menopause and men. It is injected under the skin of the abdomen or thigh "at least 45 minutes before anticipated sexual activity", no more than once in 24 hours, and more than eight doses a month is not recommended. The label also says "The mechanism by which VYLEESI improves HSDD in women is unknown". Nausea was reported by 40% of women in the trials, and blood pressure rises for a while after each dose (Vyleesi US label).
Are Addyi or Vyleesi available in Australia?
No. A search of the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods on 27 September 2026 returned no results for flibanserin, bremelanotide or Vyleesi, and none for Addyi itself (ARTG). Products that are not on the register "are not approved for supply in Australia, have not been reviewed for safety or quality" (TGA). healthdirect also warns that some products sold online for "low libido" or "sexual enhancement" "may contain undeclared prescription medicines or harmful ingredients" (healthdirect — Loss of female libido).
What helps low sex drive in women?
Treating the cause. "Low libido is the most common sexual concern in females", and it can come from hormone changes (perimenopause, menopause, some contraception, pregnancy and breastfeeding), tiredness, stress, relationship problems, medical conditions and some medicines. See a doctor if it is causing you distress or has lasted six months or more. Depending on the cause, a doctor may change a medicine, suggest menopausal hormone therapy, or refer you for counselling, relationship counselling or cognitive behaviour therapy; healthdirect notes that "There are limited medicine options to treat low libido in females" (healthdirect — Loss of female libido). Whether the other ED tablet is any different for women is answered in can women take tadalafil (Cialis)?
The short answer
There is no Viagra for women in Australia. Viagra is approved only for erectile dysfunction in men, and it did not help women with arousal problems in a large trial. The two US medicines for low desire, Addyi and Vyleesi, work in ways their own labels call unknown, and neither is on the Australian register. Low desire has many causes, and a GP is the place to start. Other questions about women and ED medicines are gathered in our guide to women and Viagra.
