Scientists Continue to Test Safety and Long-Term Effects of Viagra

It's not often that a prescription drug actually impacts the culture at large, but it's virtually impossible to overstate the significance of the prescription drug Viagra. Designed to combat male impotence and erectile dysfunction and help enhance male sexual performance, Viagra was introduced by pharmaceutical industry giant Pfizer in 1999.

Within months, Viagra would go on to break all known sales records, pulling in total revenue of over $1 billion in the period from 1999-2001. With the help of the drug, vast swaths of the male population that had previously been barred from intimacy due to age or health problems were reintroduced to physical intimacy. This trend had a number of unforeseen consequences, including a resurgence of sexually transmitted diseases among elderly populations that public health officials are still grappling with.

Despite its widespread usage, some concerns still linger about the safety of Viagra. Because many of the drug?s users are already facing other health challenges, some scientists have cautioned that the long-term effects of the drug should be scrutinized more closely. This week, we?ll survey the results of several recent studies that have taken a second look at Viagra and its possible side effects.

Viagra May Suppress Male Fertility, Study Shows

Millions of men have credited Viagra with reinvigorating their sex lives. But according to the results of a recent study, this renewed intimacy may come at a steep price.

A team of researchers working at Queen?s University in Belfast has found preliminary indications that ongoing Viagra use may impede male fertility. In a study designed to assess the impact of Viagra on sperm motility and behavior, it was found that sperm that have come in contact with the drug behave in unexpected ways.

In general, Viagra-treated sperm were found to be more active and mobile than sperm that have not been exposed to the drug. However, this increased mobility does not appear to have an equal impact in the sperm?s ability to fertilize eggs.

In addition, it was found that sperm exposed to Viagra over a period of time exhibited a number of characteristics signs of damage. In particular, these sperm tended to have signs of damage in the acrosome area, which is a unique structure that produces enzymes that help sperm penetrate eggs.

In a simultaneous study, it was found that mice that had been treated with Viagra produced, on average, 40% fewer viable embryos than did their counterparts that had not received the drug. Although all of these results were described as preliminary and unconfirmed, the researchers urged further investigation into the effects of Viagra upon male fertility.

British Study Confirms General Safety of Viagra Use

Some critics of Viagra have argued that the drug?s sudden popularity surge outpaced the pharmaceutical industry?s ability to thoroughly vet its safety. To counter these concerns, researchers all over the world have recently begun to focus their efforts on second-line studies testing the safety and effectiveness of the well-known treatment for male erectile dysfunction.

In one such study, scientists at the Lister Hospital in Stevenage, England sought to assess the overall safety and efficacy of sildenafil, which is the basic compound used in Viagra. The study tested the drug and measured its impact in a population of 147 men with previously confirmed cases of erectile dysfunction.

According to the results, 91% of the men in the study reported that the treatment satisfactorily addressed their erectile dysfunction, and 80% expressed a desire to continue the drug after the conclusion of the study. No major side effects were observed, but common complaints of symptoms such as headaches, flushing, and vision abnormalities. However, the researchers concluded that the drug was safe for the general population.

Major Study of Viagra?s Safety Yields Few Problems

Researchers at the Changi General Hospital in Singapore recently undertook a major meta-analysis of the safety and side effects of long-term Viagra usage. According to the study, the most significant risk associated with the drug is in patients with preexisting cardiac problems.

The researchers found that the undesirable side effects associated with Viagra usage were largely related to the drug?s unique action on the vascular system, and were not dangerous in the majority of cases. The researchers concluded that if properly prescribed and monitored, Viagra was safe for most otherwise healthy patients.

If you or your partner are looking for help with male erectile dysfunction or other sexual performance issues, talk to your doctor for a full assessment of your options. Please check back each week for more breaking health science news!