Sildenafil plus recreational drugs equals risky sexual behaviour

May 1 2006

A new survey has found that a significant number of young men have used erectile dysfunction, (ED), medications such as Viagra often in conjunction with other recreational drugs, and most without consulting a physician.

Researchers at the Children's Memorial Hospital and Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine conducted an anonymous survey of 234 sexually active males between the ages of 18-25, on the campuses of three national universities in Chicago.

The researchers found that 13 percent of the young men said they'd experienced erectile dysfunction, but rarely discussed this with a doctor.

Erectile dysfunction, or impotence, was defined as ever having difficulty getting or keeping an erection.

Erectile dysfunction is usually considered a condition that affects older men, and is often associated with sexual dissatisfaction, decreased quality of life, depression and anxiety; but it can also be a problem for young men.

The condition has rarely been studied in adolescent males and this is the first study to look at ED occurring with condom use.

The results indicate that men who have experienced ED while putting on a condom are four times more likely to use condoms inconsistently.

By using Viagra along with alcohol or illegal recreational drugs, the likelihood of spreading sexually transmitted diseases, increases say the researchers.

The extent to which widespread use of Viagra and other similar drugs among young men is unknown, but the results of the new research suggest the combo is used by a significant number of young men in the United States.

Lead researcher Dr. Najah Senno Musacchio, a fellow in general academic pediatrics at Children's Memorial Hospital says these men were four times less likely to use condoms consistently, and five times more likely to have six or more sex partners in the last year.

Musacchio noted this is a public health problem because not using a condom makes transmitting a sexually transmitted disease (STD), more likely.

Among the men who completed the survey, 6 percent said they'd used erectile dysfunction medications; 57 percent said they used the drugs to treat erectile dysfunction, and 29 percent used them to enhance sexual performance.

Musacchio says most of the men, mix such medications with alcohol, methamphetamine, cocaine and ecstasy.

Such drugs increase the sex drive, reduce inhibitions, but may well make a person less likely to sexually perform.

Musacchio says most of the men surveyed rarely got Viagra from a doctor but got hold of the drug from friends or through the Internet and health-care providers are out of the loop.

He believes doctors should be asking their patients if they are using erectile dysfunction medications and should counsel them on the hazards of using such medications with other substances.