(NewsNation) — A first-of-its-kind topical cream designed for women to boost sexual arousal is beginning to roll out in select states.
Viagra has been FDA-approved for close to three decades, and now, scientists at the women’s health biotech group Daré Bioscience have created a treatment “shown in clinical studies to increase genital blood flow in 10–15 minutes,” according to a release from the company.
“DARE to PLAY,” the $10-a-use treatment, uses sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra, to improve genital blood flow. The cream is said to work within minutes of being applied to the genital area.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, over 40% of women report some degree of sexual dysfunction.
“When Viagra was approved in 1998, it revolutionised sexual medicine for men. But for women, comparable progress on enhancing the natural arousal sensations has stalled for nearly three decades,” CEO Sabrina Martucci Johnson said in the release.
Prescriptions are currently available for preorder in 10 states, including Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Utah. The cream is expected to be available in other states in late 2025 and early 2026.
The cream is available as a Section 503B-compounded product, which means it’s manufactured in an outsourcing facility subject to FDA inspection; however, the FDA doesn’t evaluate the treatment for safety, effectiveness or quality.
Daré Bioscience is working towards full FDA approval.