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. 2023 Apr-Jun;15(2):148-157.
doi: 10.4103/ua.ua_33_22. Epub 2023 Jan 16.

Recreational use of oral erectile dysfunction medications among male physicians - A cross-sectional study

Raed Almannie  1 , Meshari A Alzahrani  2 , Mana Almuhaideb  1 , Ibrahim Abunohaiah  1 , Mohamad Habous  3 , Saleh Binsaleh  1
Affiliations

Recreational use of oral erectile dysfunction medications among male physicians - A cross-sectional study

Raed Almannie et al. Urol Ann. 2023 Apr-Jun.

Abstract

Introduction: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is defined as the persistent inability to attain and maintain an erection sufficient to permit satisfactory sexual performance. Bypassing health-care providers and obtaining ED medications (EDM) without a prescription are an issue that is faced globally.

Aim: We attempt to assess erectile function (EF) among a local sample of physicians, the psychological effects of recreational EDM use, and compare EF among different user groups.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study done solely on physicians in Saudi Arabia. A self-designed questionnaire including demographics, sexual characteristics, use of ED medication, sexual satisfaction, and the validated international index of EF (IIEF).

Outcome: Physicians misused EDM.

Results: A total of 503 physicians completed the questionnaire. Among participants reporting sexual problems, only 23% received counseling and 3.4% were professionally diagnosed with ED. Among users, 71.2% were using EDM recreationally, 14.4% prophylactically, and 14.4% were prescribed. Participants aged 20-29 IIEF-5 score was significantly lower than participants aged 30-39 years. Prescribed users had a lower IIEF-5 score compared to both recreational users and nonusers.

Clinical implications: Many healthy sexually active men use EDMs recreationally to increase sexual performance.

Strengths and limitations: One of the limitations of our study is that we did not use standardized tools to determine the diagnosis of some important disorders like premature ejaculation. Our study strengths include the very high response rate, with our results truly showing a nationwide self-assessment of sexual dysfunction.

Conclusion: Recreational use of oral EDMs may adversely impact the psychological aspects of sexual function. In our study, physicians misused EDM. We recommend labeling EDMs as restricted medication that requires a prescription to use by a licensed physician.

Keywords: Erectile dysfunction; Saudi Arabia; erectile dysfunction medication; men; phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors; physician; recreational.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Brand names of oral erectile dysfunction medications used among users
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mean score in international index of erectile function amongst prescribed, prophylactic, recreational, and nonusers of oral erectile dysfunction medications
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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