As a doctor with a significant amount of experience in sexual health, I often encounter patients who are looking for solutions to enhance their sexual experiences. Sometimes, it's women asking how, while other times it's men. Until the last few years, there was very little that in medicine that women could use to improve sexual stimulation. One medication that has continued to gain popularity is the use of "Scream Cream" to improve female arousal.
"Scream Cream" is a cream that is applied to the clitoris and genital area. The cream is designed to increase blood flow and sensitivity. It's only available by prescription and typically obtained from a special kind of pharmacy known as a compounding pharmacy. The cream is actually a combination of different FDA-approved medications and/or supplements that all work together to satisfy this purpose.
Compounding pharmacies specialize in custom medication preparations. Because Scream Cream is custom made for the individual, not all preparations are the same. Some of the most common ingredients of the cream include:
Aminophylline
L-arginine or citrulline
ergoloid
pentoxifylline
sildenafil
Aminophylline
Aminophylline is a medication that has been around for decades. It was originally developed to treat respiratory conditions such as asthma. By inhibiting an enzyme in the body known as phosphodiesterase, aminophylline works by relaxing the smooth muscles in blood vessels. In turn, the blood vessels allow more blood flow. By applying aminophylline to the genitals, the result is increased blood flow to the genital area. As a result, aminophylline can increase sensitivity and arousal in women.
While the use of aminophylline for sexual enhancement is still controversial and not widely studied, some studies have shown promising results.
L-arginine or citrulline
L-arginine is an amino acid whose clinical effects have been known by the medical community for decades. Not only is L-arginine naturally produced by the human body, it can also be found in foods such as nuts, meat, and seafood. Taking L-arginine increases the production of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide which helps to relax blood vessels and increase blood flow. The increased blood flow can also extend to the genital area, which can enhance sensitivity and arousal in women.
Ergoloid
Ergoloid mesylates is a drug that was developed by Albert Hofmann. It belongs to a family of medications known as ergot derivatives (ergot is a fungus). Despite there being very little evidence of efficacy, it was used for decades to treat neurological disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Pentoxifylline
Pentoxiphylline is a medication that was developed to treat pain and cramping due to peripheral artery disease. It works by inhibiting an enzyme know as phosphodiesterase (just like aminophylline and Viagra), thereby increasing bloodflow to the extremities.
A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in Sexual Medicine in 2020 studied adding pentoxifylline to patients already taking sildenafil (Viagra) for erectile dysfunction. Although the researchers concluded that it didn't make that much of a difference, it seems that the study participants may disagree. Those men taking pentoxifylline reported greater overall sexual satisfaction than those taking the placebo.
Sildenafil
More commonly known as Viagra, sildenafil is arguably the most well-known treatment for erectile dysfunction in men. Sildenafil works by inhibiting a specific phosphodiasterase enzyme, phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5). As we've seen with other medications that work on these enzymes, sildenafil increases levels of nitric oxide in the blood stream. The result is more blood flow. In women, the effect is not quite as pronounced as it is in men. However, the result is more blood flow to the clitoris, which can make arousal a bit easier.
As with any medication or supplement, it's crucial to discuss the use of Scream Cream with a healthcare professional before trying it out. They can help evaluate whether it's a safe and appropriate option for you, as well as provide guidance on dosage and potential side effects. Additionally, it's important to keep in mind that sexual pleasure and satisfaction are complex and multifaceted, and a cream alone may not be the solution for everyone.
Sources
Law YXT, Tai BC, Tan YQ, Lata RNM, Lee KCJ. A Small Group Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of Daily Pentoxifylline in the Management of Patients With Erectile Dysfunction with Suboptimal Treatment Response to Sildenafil. Sex Med. 2020 Mar;8(1):14-20. doi: 10.1016/j.esxm.2019.08.012. Epub 2019 Oct 1. PMID: 31585802; PMCID: PMC7042165.
