By Emily Murray

Well, it appears that the “magic blue pill” may have even more power than any of us thought! According to a new study, women suffering from menstrual cramps may find relief from the pain by taking Viagra, a pill used by men worldwide for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Strange right? When you hear how researchers came upon this discovery however, it makes more sense.

For those suffering from Primary Dsmenorrhea, the name of the condition marked by very painful menstrual periods, one week a month is nearly unbearable. This pain  is the result of an over production of prostaglandins which have the purpose of telling the muscles when to contract and relax. When too much is produced, uterine contractions take place and pain receptors become more sensitive. So here is where Viagra comes in.

Sildenafil citrate dilates blood vessels, that’s why it is so effective for men suffering from ED. Researchers discovered that this increase blood flow in women can actually help push the excess prostaglandins through the body, therefore lessening menstrual pain.

The study is the first of it’s kind and has opened the doors for several other studies to follow suit. The team is already planning on a second study to see if there is a difference in pain relief if the Viagra is ingested orally versus vaginally.