The use of sildenafil (Viagra) in infertile women to assist conception has
been criticised by a leading gynaecologist.
Professor Lord Robert Winston (head of reproductive medicine, Hammersmith hospital,
London), whose comments appear in national newspaper reports, says that sildenafil
is unlikely to be of any benefit to infertile women and that its use in women
hoping to conceive or in the early stages of pregnancy is irresponsible.
A spokeswoman for Pfizer, the manufacturer of the drug, told The Journal on
October 24 that the use of sildenafil in the treatment of infertility was outside
the drug’s product labelling and Pfizer was, therefore, not in a position
to recommend its use in such cases. She added that Pfizer had not conducted
any trials to study the effects of sildenafil in infertile women but that this
might be a possibility for the future. Trials to study the efficacy of the drug
in the treatment of female sexual dysfunction were under way but results were
still at a preliminary stage, she said. Sildenafil is currently indicated for
treatment of erectile dysfunction only.