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Recreational use of erectile dysfunction medication may decrease confidence in ability to gain and hold erections in
P Santtila1, N K Sandnabba, P Jern
1Department of Psychology, Center of Excellence in Behavior Genetics, Abo Akademi University, Turku, Finland. pekka.santtila@abo.fi
International Journal of Impotence Research
|July 28, 2007
Summary
Recreational use of erectile dysfunction medication (EDM) may decrease confidence in erection ability. Frequent use is linked to lower confidence, suggesting psychological dependence on medication for erections.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Sexual Medicine
- Psychology
Background:
- Erectile dysfunction medication (EDM) is increasingly used recreationally.
- The psychological impact of recreational EDM use is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency of recreational EDM use.
- To assess adverse effects of recreational EDM use on erectile confidence.
- To compare erectile function and sexual behavior between recreational and medicinal users.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of a population-based sample of 4428 males (mean age 29.51 years).
- Data collected on recreational/medicinal EDM use, erectile function, sexual behavior, and confidence.
- Statistical comparison between recreational users, medicinal users, and non-users.
Main Results:
- 2.6% of males reported recreational EDM use; 0.9% reported medicinal use.
- Recreational users showed lower current confidence in erectile ability compared to non-users.
- Despite lower confidence, recreational users reported better erectile function and more unrestricted sexual behavior.
Conclusions:
- Recreational EDM users may develop psychological dependence on pharmacologically induced erections.
- Lower confidence in erectile ability is associated with more frequent recreational EDM use.
- Further research is needed to understand the long-term psychological effects of recreational EDM use.
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