There is no FDA-approved product called “Viagra cream.” Viagra is a brand name for sildenafil citrate tablets, and the manufacturer does not make a cream version. However, a topical sildenafil cream does exist. It has been developed primarily for women with sexual arousal difficulties and became available for prescription through specialty pharmacies in select U.S. states starting in late 2025. Compounding pharmacies have also prepared custom sildenafil creams for both men and women for years, though these are not standardized products.
If you’ve seen this product advertised or your doctor mentioned it, here’s what you need to know about how it works, how it’s applied, and what the clinical evidence actually shows.
What Sildenafil Cream Is (and Isn’t)
Sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra, works by relaxing blood vessels and increasing blood flow to the genitals. In pill form, it enters your bloodstream and affects your whole body, which is why oral Viagra can cause headaches, flushing, and nasal congestion. A topical cream delivers the same active ingredient directly to genital tissue, with the goal of boosting local blood flow while minimizing those bodywide side effects.
The most studied version is a 3.6% sildenafil cream developed by Daré Bioscience, designed specifically for women with female sexual arousal disorder. This product is not the same as the blue Viagra pill repackaged in cream form. It was formulated for topical absorption through genital skin and has gone through clinical trials. As of early 2025, it had not yet received full FDA approval but was being sold by prescription through a specialized outsourcing pharmacy under the brand name DARE to PLAY.
Some compounding pharmacies also make their own sildenafil creams for men or women. These are mixed to order based on a doctor’s prescription, but they don’t go through the same testing for safety, absorption, or effectiveness that a commercially developed product does. Quality can vary from pharmacy to pharmacy.
How to Apply It
In clinical trials of the 3.6% sildenafil cream for women, participants applied the cream approximately 10 to 20 minutes before sexual activity. The cream is applied directly to the genital area. This timing allows the sildenafil to absorb through the skin and begin increasing local blood flow before intercourse or other sexual contact.
A few practical points based on how the product was used in studies:
- Timing matters. Apply 10 to 20 minutes beforehand. Applying it too early or too late may reduce its effectiveness.
- Use the prescribed amount. If you’re getting this from a compounding pharmacy, your prescription should specify the dose. More cream does not mean better results.
- Clean, dry skin. As with most topical medications, applying to clean skin helps with consistent absorption.
- Don’t combine with other topical products in the same area unless your prescriber says otherwise. Lubricants, oils, or other creams could interfere with absorption or interact with the formulation.
What the Clinical Evidence Shows
The largest trial of topical sildenafil cream, called the RESPOND trial, tested the 3.6% cream in premenopausal women with arousal disorder. The overall results were mixed. Across the full study population, women using the sildenafil cream did not show statistically significant improvement compared to women using a placebo cream on the study’s primary measures of sexual function.
That said, a subset of women with arousal difficulties (with or without low desire) did see meaningful benefits. This group reported significantly improved arousal sensation scores compared to placebo, along with greater improvements in desire and orgasm. They also reported less sexual distress and fewer interpersonal difficulties related to their sexual concerns. These findings are promising but come from a post hoc analysis, meaning researchers identified the pattern after the trial ended rather than designing the study to test that specific group from the start.
For context, oral sildenafil in women has shown only marginal benefits over placebo in published trials, with a high rate of side effects that many women found intolerable. The topical approach was specifically developed to avoid those systemic side effects while concentrating the drug where it’s needed.
Side Effects and Partner Safety
The RESPOND trial found that topical sildenafil cream was safe and well-tolerated. Because the drug is absorbed locally rather than entering the full bloodstream in large amounts, the systemic side effects common with oral sildenafil (headaches, flushing, dizziness, vision changes) are less of a concern.
One question many people have is whether the cream transfers to a sexual partner during contact. The trial tracked this directly. Sexual partners were contacted within 72 hours of each sexual event where the cream was used. Among 91 partners exposed to the sildenafil cream, only 7 reported any side effects, a rate that was not statistically different from the placebo group. So partner transfer does not appear to be a significant safety issue based on available data.
How This Differs From Other Topical Options
If you’ve come across other topical products marketed for sexual arousal or erectile function, it helps to understand the differences. Eroxon, for example, is an over-the-counter gel for men that contains no active pharmaceutical ingredient at all. It uses a blend of fast-evaporating ingredients that create a cooling-then-warming sensation on the head of the penis, stimulating nerves and triggering the body’s natural release of nitric oxide to increase blood flow. It works through a physical sensation rather than a drug.
Sildenafil cream, by contrast, contains an actual pharmaceutical that chemically relaxes blood vessel walls. It works through the same mechanism as oral Viagra, just delivered through the skin instead of the digestive system. This makes it a fundamentally different product from stimulating gels or arousal oils you might find over the counter.
Getting a Prescription
You cannot buy sildenafil cream over the counter. It requires a prescription regardless of whether you get it from a compounding pharmacy or through the commercially available version. If your doctor is unfamiliar with the topical formulation, a sexual medicine specialist or a gynecologist experienced with sexual health concerns is a good starting point.
If you’re using a compounded version, ask your pharmacy about storage. Sildenafil products generally should be kept at room temperature (between 68°F and 86°F), away from direct sunlight, and never frozen. Compounded creams may have a shorter shelf life than commercially manufactured products, so check the expiration date and follow any specific storage instructions from your pharmacist.