Sexual Desire Problems in Women – Comparison of Lovegra and Addyi

Lovegra or Addyi? What is the difference and when is it better to choose Lovegra over Addyi?

Sexual dysfunction does not only affect men but also many women – it includes, for example, reduced or lost sexual desire, vaginal dryness, pain during intercourse, or difficulty reaching orgasm. While men have Viagra and other drugs available, women until recently did not have a similarly effective pill. In recent years, however, two products have appeared that focus on improving women’s sexual lives: Lovegra (nicknamed “female Viagra”) and Addyi (the active ingredient flibanserin, sometimes referred to as the libido pill). Lovegra contains the same active ingredient as Viagra for men – sildenafil – and mainly targets the improvement of physical sexual arousal. In contrast, Addyi (approved in 2015) contains flibanserin, a completely different substance developed for women with extremely low sexual desire. Both products therefore help women, but each works differently and is suitable for different situations. In this article, we will explain in detail and in a clear way the mechanism of action of Lovegra and Addyi, compare their use, effects, and side effects, and advise when it is appropriate to choose Lovegra and when (if at all) Addyi.

Mechanism of Action

Lovegra (sildenafil – “female Viagra”)

Lovegra contains sildenafil citrate (100 mg per tablet), the same active ingredient as Viagra for men. Sildenafil belongs to PDE-5 enzyme inhibitors, which cause blood vessels to dilate and increase blood flow in the body. In women, this significantly increases blood flow to the genital area – especially the clitoris and surrounding tissue – similar to how men experience increased blood flow to the penis. Better blood circulation in the pelvic area leads to stronger physical arousal: the vaginal mucosa becomes more lubricated, and the sensitivity of intimate parts increases. This way, a woman can more easily achieve the necessary arousal during sexual stimulation and may also reach orgasm more easily. It is important to note that Lovegra does not work without sexual stimulation or mood for sex – it does not create sexual desire out of nothing, but if the woman is in the mood, it facilitates the body’s physical reaction (similar to Viagra in men). The mechanism of Lovegra thus focuses mainly on the physical aspect of arousal, not the psychological.

Addyi (flibanserin)

Addyi contains the active substance flibanserin, which works primarily in the brain. It does not act directly on the genitals or blood vessels but influences chemical processes in the central nervous system. Flibanserin was originally developed as an antidepressant, and its mechanism of action is not completely simple to describe; however, it is known to modulate neurotransmitter levels associated with sexual desire. Simply put – it increases dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the brain (which support sexual appetite) and reduces serotonin levels (which suppress sexual desire). This restores the balance of chemical signals needed for the emergence of libido in women. Flibanserin therefore targets the psychological aspect of sexual life – the actual desire for sex. Unlike Lovegra, it does not induce physical signs of arousal directly but gradually increases “interest in sex” on a neurochemical level. This can, over time, increase sexual appetite in some women suffering from extremely low libido (so-called hypoactive sexual desire disorder – HSDD). However, it should be noted that the effectiveness of Addyi in clinical studies was relatively limited – improvements in libido and the number of satisfying sexual experiences were only modest compared to placebo. Even the mechanism of flibanserin is complex and does not work the same way for everyone, as sexual desire is influenced by many other factors.

When to Use Lovegra and When Addyi

Each of these two products is suitable for different users and situations. In general, Addyi is intended only for a narrowly defined group of women with a specific diagnosis, while Lovegra can be used by women with a broader range of difficulties in their sexual life. Below we explain who each drug is suitable for – and why, in most other cases, it makes more sense to choose Lovegra.

Addyi (flibanserin) – who it is (and is not) suitable for:

Addyi was developed for premenopausal women suffering from generalized hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). This means women who have had virtually no desire for sex over the long term, under any circumstances (regardless of partner or situation), and who are personally troubled by this condition. At the same time, other causes of loss of libido must have been excluded – such as health problems, psychological disorders, use of other drugs, relationship problems, or substance abuse. Only if a woman meets all these conditions can a doctor prescribe flibanserin (Addyi) as a possible treatment. Addyi is not intended for postmenopausal women or for men and is not for occasional performance or libido enhancement – it is long-term treatment for a serious disorder. Using Addyi requires considerable discipline and caution: tablets are taken daily, every evening before bedtime, for several weeks or months. Alcohol must not be consumed during treatment (and it is not recommended even on days when you skip a pill, due to the persisting risk of lowered blood pressure). In short, Addyi is not a universal “aphrodisiac” for women but a specialized drug for a serious diagnosis. It is also important to know that if no improvement occurs after 8 weeks of daily use, Addyi treatment is discontinued.

Lovegra (sildenafil) – when it makes sense:

Lovegra can help women who have problems with physical arousal – for example, suffer from insufficient lubrication, weak genital sensitivity, difficulty reaching orgasm, or generally lower sexual reactivity. It is often also used by women in menopause or after gynecological surgeries (such as hysterectomy), where hormonal decline or medical procedures have led to reduced physical response during sex. Lovegra is also suitable for women who occasionally experience decreased libido due to stress, fatigue, or other external factors but otherwise have normal sexual desire – in such cases, sildenafil can help “kickstart” the body when the mind is less willing. A great advantage of Lovegra is that it is taken only as needed. You do not have to undergo long-term treatment – you take a pill about an hour before planned intercourse, and the expected effect occurs at that moment. This is practical for women who do not want (or cannot) take daily medication. Lovegra also has a faster onset of action and a more predictable effect – you know that it will start working within about an hour by increasing blood flow, which you will feel as greater arousal. The necessary condition, however, is that the woman has at least some desire for sex – without mental arousal, the increased blood flow alone will not matter. Lovegra is therefore not a treatment for psychological causes of loss of libido but helps when the problem is more physical in nature or when you simply want to intensify the experience.

What Do Global Statistics Say?

According to a study published in the journal Sexual Medicine, 70–85% of men reach orgasm during intercourse, while only 46–58% of women do. This inequality in sexual satisfaction is referred to as the “orgasm gap.” Research suggests that one of the main reasons for this disparity is insufficient clitoral stimulation during intercourse. Many women require precisely this stimulation to achieve orgasm, which is often neglected in heterosexual relationships.

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that 43% of women in the USA reported some form of sexual dysfunction, with the most common being reduced sexual desire.

Research has shown that the frequency of sexual activity decreases with age. For example, women aged 18–25 had an average of 1.7 sexual encounters in the past month, while in older age groups the frequency was lower.

A US study found that approximately 71.3% of women who experienced rape reported some form of impact on their physical or mental health or on health-related behavior as a result of the violence.

Summary

If you do not suffer from the specific diagnosis of HSDD or do not meet the conditions for Addyi use, then Lovegra is likely the better and safer choice to improve your sexual experience. Still, use it responsibly and with the awareness that it is not all-powerful – if the problems are more relationship-based or psychological, solving them with a pill may not be sufficient.

List of References:

MAYO CLINIC, 2024. Viagra for women: Does it work? [online]. Mayo Clinic, 2024. https://www.mayoclinic.org/
HEALTHLINE, 2024. Viagra for Women and Libido Treatment [online]. Healthline, 2024. https://www.healthline.com/
ADDYI, 2024. What is Addyi? [online]. Addyi, 2024. https://addyi.com/
Gesselman, A. N., Frederick, D. A., & Garcia, J. R. (2024). The lifelong orgasm gap: exploring age's impact on orgasm rates. Sexual Medicine. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11217024/
Laumann, E. O., Paik, A., & Rosen, R. C. (1999). Sexual dysfunction in the United States: prevalence and predictors. Journal of the American Medical Association, 281(6), 537–544. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/188762
Gesselman, A. N., Frederick, D. A., & Garcia, J. R. (2024). The lifelong orgasm gap: exploring age's impact on orgasm rates. Sexual Medicine. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11217024/
Tjaden, P., & Thoennes, N. (2000). Full report of the prevalence, incidence, and consequences of violence against women: findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey. National Institute of Justice. https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/183781.pdf