Viagra may help accelerate babies’ growth in womb

Pregnant women whose babies are failing to grow at a normal rate in the womb may be given Viagra, as scientists believe the erectile dysfunction drug could accelerate foetal growth.

The Irish Centre for Fetal and Neonatal Translational Research (Infant) in Cork is looking for women who are no more than 30 weeks’ pregnant and whose unborn babies have Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) to take part in a clinical trial involving viagra.

Viagra opens blood vessels, so the logic is that greater blood flow to the womb could help boost growth of the foetus.