In an article published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology this month, RIDSTRESS, a phase two randomised controlled trial out of the Mater Research Institute in Queensland, has found that administering Viagra (Sildenafil citrate) to women during early labour can reduce the chances of emergency caesarean section by 51 per cent.
Viagra is traditionally used as a vasodilator and researchers correctly hypothesised that an increase in blood flow during labour would lead to less complications in childbirth. The results are significant, as there are currently no proven interventions that reduce the risk of fetal compromise.
The trial was a double-blinded study which involved 300 women. No differences in maternal adverse advents were detected.