Recreational use of erectile dysfunction medication may decrease confidence in ability to gain and hold erections in young males

• Published in: International journal of impotence research Vol. 19; no. 6; pp. 591 - 596
• Main Authors: SANTTILA, P, SANDNABBA, N. K, JERN, P, VARJONEN, M, WITTING, K, VON DER PAHLEN, B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Nature Publishing 01.11.2007; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Anti-impotence agents; Biological and medical sciences; Complications and side effects; Dosage and administration; Drug therapy; Erectile dysfunction; Erectile Dysfunction - drug therapy; Erectile Dysfunction - epidemiology; Erectile Dysfunction - physiopathology; Erectile Dysfunction - psychology; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Impotence; Male; Male genital diseases; Medical sciences; Non tumoral diseases; Patient outcomes; Penile Erection - drug effects; Penile Erection - psychology; Sexual Behavior; Sexual disorders; United States; Andrology; Iatrogenic; Erection disorders; 3',5'-Cyclic-GMP phosphodiesterase; Enzyme; Sexual dysfunction; Enzyme inhibitor; Male; Esterases; Phosphoric diester hydrolases; erectile dysfunction; confidence in erectile ability; Confidence; recreational use; Hydrolases; iatrogenic sexual dysfunction; Sildenafil; erectile dysfunction medication; Male genital diseases
• ISSN: 0955-9930; 1476-5489
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.ijir.3901584

We aimed to estimate the frequency of recreational use of erectile dysfunction medication (EDM) and to identify any adverse effects on confidence in gaining and holding erections resulting from such use. In addition, we explored differences in erectile function and sexual behavior between recreational and medicinal users of EDM to control for the possibility of recreational users having but not admitting erectile dysfunction. A subset from the Genetics of Sex and Aggression population-based sample of 4428 males with a mean age of 29.51 (s.d.=6.77) years provided information on their use of EDM, erectile function during first intercourse and currently, sexual behavior and confidence in their ability to gain and hold erections. There were 2.6% (n=115) recreational and 0.9% (n=39) medicinal users of EDM. Recreational users had currently significantly lower confidence in their erectile ability than non-users even though they had significantly better erectile function and significantly more unrestricted sexual behavior as well as had more confidence when initiating sexual activity. More frequent use of EDM was associated with significantly less confidence in erectile ability among the recreational users. We conclude that recreational users of EDM may be vulnerable for becoming psychologically dependent on pharmacologically induced erection.