Erectile Dysfunction Treatments & Their Possible Connection to STDs

Erectile dysfunction, commonly referred to as impotence, is not only frustrating to many men as well as their partners, but it is sometimes a source of great embarrassment for some men. This condition, which is the inability to attain an erection adequate enough for sex, has several possible causes, from diabetes to heart disease to fatigue.

Many men will consult with their physicians if impotence occurs on a regular basis and after a thorough examination, most will prescribe medication that will assist the man in attaining an adequate erection. Although there are side-effects with almost every medication, most men who take drugs for impotence feel that the benefits of the drug outweigh any potential side-effects.

New research, however, suggests that men who take drugs to treat impotence have higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases, which may cause some men who suffer from impotence to be reluctant to agree to medication therapy.

Researchers at Harvard Medical School decided to research whether or not men who used drugs that increase the ability to attain and maintain a firm erection were somehow related to more frequent cases of sexually transmitted diseases. Researchers compared information retrieved from the database of private employer-based insurance companies and compared them over a period of 9 years.

The results of the study were astounding: men who are using drugs to combat erectile dysfunction did in fact have higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases, even in men over the age of 40, since men in this age group and older often suffer with erectile dysfunction. These higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases often occurred one year prior to undergoing treatment for impotence as well as one year after the use of these drugs.

Researchers agree that the study had some limitations, so men seeking treatment for impotence shouldn't let such findings deter them from achieving their sexual goals. The study results don't really prove much, and further research needs to be conducted before more conclusive results are found, so men shouldn't toss their Viagra in the trash just yet.

Despite the fact that studies prove that men who use prescription medication to treat erectile dysfunction have been proven to have higher instances of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, as long as a man is involved in a monogamous relationship with his sexual partner, there is no reason to become alarmed about these study results. The drugs themselves don't cause sexually transmitted diseases, and men who have multiple sexual partners and/or engage in homosexual activity are obviously those who have to worry about sexually transmitted diseases, especially HIV, whether they're taking medication to treat erectile dysfunction or not.

References

Mayo Clinic ED Page - http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/erectile-dysfunction/DS00162

Medscape ED & STD Article - http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/724760