Written By | Torch Media Africa
Dare to Play, a first-of-its-kind prescription cream, is designed to enhance blood flow to female genital tissue
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HEALTH
For nearly three decades, Viagra has helped men overcome erectile difficulties by increasing blood flow to the penis. But while men have benefited from the “little blue pill,” women have had no comparable pharmaceutical solution for low libido — until now.
In a notable development, the science behind Viagra has been reimagined to support women’s sexual arousal.
Daré Bioscience on Wednesday launched Dare to Play, a first-of-its-kind prescription cream designed to enhance blood flow to female genital tissue. The topical medication contains sildenafil — the same active ingredient in Viagra — and aims to address a longstanding gap in women’s sexual health care.
According to Sabrina Martucci Johnson, president and CEO of Daré Bioscience, research shows that women experience sexual dysfunction at similar rates to men and can benefit from comparable drug mechanisms.
“We have scientific evidence that sildenafil can work for women if it is specifically designed and formulated with them in mind,” Johnson told The Post. “That’s where our work comes in.”
More than 40 percent of women experience some form of sexual dysfunction, with arousal difficulties common. The condition, known as female sexual interest/arousal disorder (FSIAD), can stem from several factors, including hormonal changes related to pregnancy or menopause, stress, medication use, diabetes, depression, or past trauma.
Current treatment options include psychotherapy, stress-management techniques, and the drug flibanserin, which acts on neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine to enhance sexual desire.
How the cream works
Dare to Play targets the physical symptoms of FSIAD by helping blood vessels in the clitoris and vulva relax and widen, increasing genital blood flow and improving lubrication and swelling responses.
“It’s the blood flow to the genital tissue that causes tingling, warmth, engorgement,” Johnson explained. “It’s what leads to the lubrication response during arousal, because that mechanism is mediated by blood flow.”
Developing a female-specific product has taken years. Early studies suggested sildenafil could help women just as Viagra helps men, but a pill form would require significantly higher doses — making it impractical. Daré Bioscience spent about a decade developing a fast-absorbing topical formulation that works quickly and efficiently.
The cream begins working within 10 to 15 minutes after application.
Clinical trials showed that desire, arousal, and orgasm improved among participants using Dare to Play, with no measurable side effects compared to a placebo. The cream was even tested during oral sex.
Typical Viagra side effects — such as headaches, flushing, indigestion, vision changes, and nasal congestion — were not seen because the cream acts locally, with minimal systemic absorption.
However, Dare to Play is not recommended for women with heart conditions or an active herpes outbreak.
Women do not need an official FSIAD diagnosis to obtain a prescription. Daré Bioscience is partnering with a telehealth provider through Medvantx, its dispensing pharmacy, to offer prescriptions for women experiencing any arousal difficulties.
Dare to Play is currently being offered as a compounded drug manufactured at an FDA-registered 503B outsourcing facility. Residents of Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Utah can pre-order it now, with national availability expected in early 2026.
Daré Bioscience is also pursuing full FDA approval. The company is working with regulators on a Phase 3 trial — a 12-week double-blind study comparing Dare to Play to a placebo cream.
Johnson emphasized that while Viagra has been FDA-approved since 1998, no equivalent product has ever been approved for women, despite similar levels of need.
Products marketed as female arousal enhancers “rely heavily on marketing language, consumer reviews, and lifestyle branding without real evidence,” she said.
“This is a long-overdue correction to a system that has sidelined women’s sexual health. We want to validate women’s experiences by putting science where marketing has dominated,” Johnson added. “Women deserve clinically proven solutions.”
