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Impotence a Problem for Young Men, Too
Many turn to Viagra, even those not struggling with erectile dysfunction, study finds
By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter
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SATURDAY, April 29 (HealthDay News) -- While erectile dysfunction is usually considered a condition that affects older men, it can also be a problem for young males.
And some college-aged men are using Viagra in tandem with alcohol or illegal recreational drugs, increasing the likelihood of spreading sexually transmitted diseases, a new study concludes.
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Just how widespread the use of Viagra and other similar drugs is among young men is unknown. But judging from the results of the new research -- which included 234 sexually active men aged 18 to 25 years old attending three Chicago universities -- the drugs appear to be used by a significant number of young men in the United States.
The researchers reported 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.
The study, the first of its kind, was conducted by researchers from Children's Memorial Hospital and Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, both in Chicago. They were to present their findings Saturday at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting in San Francisco.
"We asked men about erectile dysfunction when using a condom, and 25 percent said they lost an erection while putting on a condom," said lead researcher Dr. Najah Senno Musacchio, a fellow in general academic pediatrics at Children's Memorial Hospital. "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.
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Copyright © 2006 ScoutNews LLC. All rights reserved.
Last updated 4/29/2006
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SOURCES: Najah Senno Musacchio, M.D., fellow, general academic pediatrics, Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago; Ira Sharlip, M.D., clinical professor, urology, University of California, San Francisco, and spokesman, American Urological Association; April 29, 2006, presentation, Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting, San Francisco
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