For decades, men have had a clear medical option for sexual performance. Now, women finally have one too. A new prescription cream aims to support female arousal, and it is already sparking conversation.

The product comes from Daré Bioscience, a women’s health company based in California. It is called DARE to PLAY. Unlike a pill, it is a topical cream. Women apply it shortly before intimacy. The company says it begins working in about ten minutes.

So how does it work? The cream uses sildenafil, the same active ingredient found in Viagra. Instead of targeting erectile tissue, however, it increases blood flow to vaginal tissue. That increase may heighten physical arousal and sensitivity. Daré says millions of women experience arousal difficulties, especially with age or hormonal changes.

Company leaders describe the launch as overdue. They note that medical innovation in female sexual health has lagged for years. Their goal, they say, is confidence, comfort, and choice.

The cream is designed for once-daily use. Clinical testing reported no significant side effects compared with placebo. For now, licensed providers can prescribe it in a limited number of states, with wider availability planned soon.

Men Got Viagra in the ’90s—Could This First of Its Kind Topical Cream Quietly Rewrite Women’s Sexual Health Too? https://t.co/LUr0KnidmP

— Oprah Daily (@OprahDaily) December 10, 2025

There is one important caveat. The product is a compounded medication. While it is made in FDA-inspected facilities, the FDA has not formally approved it yet. The company continues to seek that approval.

Still, for many women, this marks a notable step forward in addressing intimacy later in life.