Can I take sildenafil while pregnant or breastfeeding?
A plain-words look at what the NHS, the US drug label and LactMed say about sildenafil.
In short
Pregnancy: Let your doctor know if you're pregnant or trying for a baby. Sildenafil is not usually used in pregnancy, but your doctor may recommend it if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Breastfeeding: Let your doctor know if you're breastfeeding. Sildenafil is not usually used in breastfeeding mothers, and your doctor may offer you a different treatment.
Your doctor, midwife or pharmacist can help you decide.
What this means for you
Pregnancy
- Let your doctor know if you're pregnant or trying for a baby.
- Sildenafil is not usually used in pregnancy, but your doctor may recommend it if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Breastfeeding
- Let your doctor know if you're breastfeeding.
- Sildenafil is not usually used in breastfeeding mothers, and your doctor may offer you a different treatment.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist
This page is educational, not advice for your own situation. Talk to your doctor, midwife or pharmacist before you start, stop or change any medicine in pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
The details: what each source says
Sildenafil in pregnancy
The NHS says
Let your doctor know if you're pregnant or trying for a baby. Sildenafil is not usually used in pregnancy, but your doctor may recommend it if the benefits outweigh the risks.
In our words, from the NHS page Sildenafil (Viagra) (nhs.uk). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). The NHS does not endorse this site.
The US drug label says
8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary Sildenafil tablets are not indicated for use in females. There are no data with the use of Sildenafil tablets in pregnant women to inform any drug-associated risks for adverse developmental outcomes. Animal reproduction studies conducted with sildenafil did not show adverse developmental outcomes when administered during organogenesis in rats and rabbits at oral doses up to 16 and 32 times, respectively, the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) of 100 mg/day on a mg/m 2 basis (see DATA ).
Prescribing label, section “8.1 Pregnancy” (opening excerpt): SILDENAFIL (oral), Appco Pharma LLC. Read the full section on DailyMed. Quoted verbatim; US labels are written for US prescribers and patients.
More on sildenafil in pregnancy: Bumps (Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy) leaflet (external site).
Sildenafil while breastfeeding
The NHS says
Let your doctor know if you're breastfeeding. Sildenafil is not usually used in breastfeeding mothers, and your doctor may offer you a different treatment.
In our words, from the NHS page Sildenafil (Viagra) (nhs.uk). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). The NHS does not endorse this site.
LactMed says
Limited data indicate that sildenafil and its active metabolite in breastmilk are poorly excreted into breastmilk. Amounts ingested by the infant are far below doses given to treat infants and would not be expected to cause any adverse effects in breastfed infants.
“Summary of Use during Lactation”, LactMed record “Sildenafil” (LM1055), quoted verbatim. Everything LactMed reports about Sildenafil while breastfeeding.
What these words mean
- metabolite
- a substance made when the body breaks down a medicine
Definitions adapted from the NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms (National Cancer Institute).
The US prescribing label says
8.2 Lactation Risk Summary Sildenafil tablets are not indicated for use in females. Limited data indicate that sildenafil and its active metabolite are present in human milk. There is no information on the effects on the breastfed child, or the effects on milk production.
Prescribing label, section “8.2 Lactation”: SILDENAFIL (oral), Appco Pharma LLC. Label on DailyMed. Quoted verbatim; US labels are written for US prescribers and patients.
Other names
UK brand names (per the NHS): Viagra.
Sources
- NHS, Sildenafil (Viagra) (nhs.uk), page last reviewed 29 July 2026. Paraphrased. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- US drug label: SILDENAFIL (oral), Appco Pharma LLC, human prescription drug, label effective 11 February 2026, set ID df1cc749-caec-4bf0-aa4d-db9dcc5257c3. DailyMed (National Library of Medicine). Public domain; quoted verbatim.
- Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), via NCBI Bookshelf, record “Sildenafil” (LM1055), bulk release of 22 September 2026. LactMed on NCBI Bookshelf. Public domain; quoted verbatim. LactMed is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Bumps (Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy), UK Teratology Information Service: Bumps (Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy) leaflet. Linked, not reproduced.
Sources checked 26 September 2026. How we source and check every page.
Educational summary of named sources, not medical advice.