A drug dubbed the “female Viagra” – even though it works differently – has been approved by US regulators the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) despite fears over side effects.

Marketed as “Addyi”, it is the first drug to treat low sexual desire in women.

It will only be available through certified and specially trained health care professionals and pharmacies due to its safety issues.

“Today’s approval provides women distressed by their low sexual desire with an approved treatment option…” Details: http://t.co/ilY06vUOrv— Media Affairs (@FDAMedia) August 18, 2015

The US National Consumers League described the move as the biggest breakthrough in women’s sexual health since the advent of the Pill for contraception.

Also celebrating, the North Carolina company that makes the drug, Sprout Pharmaceuticals, welcomed the decision in a statement.

“All drugs have risks and we want to appropriately inform consumers of risks. So we do have a black box warning. It’s related to low b