Woman claims to be ‘first feminine in UK’ to be prescribed erection tablet

A woman has claimed to be the “first female in the UK” to be prescribed an erectile dysfunction pill.

Katie Newell, 36 suffers from chronic kidney disease stage two and loin pain haematuria syndrome (LPHS) – a condition causing severe groin pain. She was given the blue pill called Cialis by her GP in February 2024.

The aim was to improve her quality of life by relaxing the ureter – the tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder. Despite initial doubts, Katie says the pill has given her a “new lease of life,” enabling her to do everyday tasks she previously couldn’t, such as reaching high shelves, walking, and urinating without needing a catheter.

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While Cialis can help improve liver function, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, the reasons why aren’t widely documented. Medical News Today states that the pill can be prescribed off-label for purposes other than erectile dysfunction.

It works by relaxing the ureter muscles, which makes the tube wider and allows uretal stones to pass through more easily. Katie’s only side effect has been short hot flushes, with no increase in her libido.

Katie, from Liverpool, has hailed Cialis as a life-changer, saying: “Cialis has changed my life – it’s been absolutely incredible. I’ve been told I’m the only woman, so far, who takes it. I don’t have as much pain, I can walk a little bit further and wee without passing lots of blood.

“My dosage is going to be increased from 5mg to 15mg at the end of the month. I’m hoping I’ll be able to do more afterwards, like going out with my friends.”

Katie first started experiencing symptoms at the age of 13, suffering from recurring urinary tract infections (UTIs), at least one every month. Her mum, retired nurse Maria, now 68, recognised something was seriously wrong and took her to the GP.

Katie recalled: “My mum said, ‘this isn’t right,” The doctor referred me to see a urologist at Aintree University Hospital. He thought I just had an infection in my kidney.”

Despite being given antibiotics, Katie’s pain continued to worsen. She described feeling an intense pain in her groin, like “someone stabbing me and pulling the knife up-and-down.”

She also noticed she was passing a lot of blood in her urine ranging from a rose wine colour to “like I’ve literally just been stabbed.”

Maria took her back to the urologist, who examined her kidneys via an ultrasound and a CT scan. He concluded she had kidney stones and sent her to get them lasered off.

At 17, Katie’s recurring kidney infections caused her to develop sepsis.

She was later diagnosed with chronic kidney disease stage one – meaning her kidney function had dropped.

By the age of 24, Katie’s chronic kidney disease had progressed to stage two – meaning her kidney function had decreased even further.

If she reaches stage five, she’ll likely need dialysis or a transplant.

After years of struggling through, Katie was finally referred to urologist Dr Goldsmith at Aintree in 2022.

He prescribed Katie 5mg of tadalafil, commercially known as Cialis.

“I said, ‘but I’m female’ – he was aware,” she said.

The doctor assured her it had made a significant difference to his male patients’ lives.

“The only other option for me was to eventually get a kidney transplant,” she revealed.

Just half a year into her course of Cialis, Katie has gone six months without needing a nerve-blocking injection in her spine – a first in 19 years.

“I’m excited to see what I’m going to be able to do next,” she said.

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