A freelance writer who specializes in the pharmaceutical industry takes on a Viagra critic.

I recently read an article that made fun of and attacked people who use Viagra, the world's best-known treatment for erectile dysfunction.
The article claimed that Viagra users, rather than gracefully accepting their erectile dysfunction as a natural part of aging, are resorting to a wholly unnatural and potentially dangerous remedy to their condition.


It went on to suggest that men with erectile dysfunction should accept their bodies as they are instead of taking Viagra. They compared it to bald men who try to fool people with a comb-over, or aging women who buy new breasts.

By the time I finished reading this out-and-out anti-Viagra diatribe, it was clear to me that the article was wrong on so many levels.

Let Nature Take Its Course?

If erectile dysfunction is nothing more than a natural part of aging for men, so too unfortunately are arthritis, cancer, heart disease, and numerous other conditions that develop with age. If we accept the article's contention that men with erectile dysfunction should forgo using Viagra and just take what comes their way without complaint, should the same men also decline treatment for prostate cancer, not seek out effective therapies for their osteoarthritis, etc?

If it's true that the body begins breaking down naturally at a very early age, perhaps we should simply let nature take its course and shun all medicines entirely - aspirin, insulin, Viagra, and everything in between.

The Quality of Life Argument For Viagra

While erectile dysfunction is not a life-threatening condition, neither are most forms of arthritis, and yet people spend millions every year on pain medication and other therapies that help improve their quality of life. One could easily argue that no drug has done more to improve quality of life in recent history than Viagra.

The article I read also failed to acknowledge that erectile dysfunction may be caused by another (sometimes more serious) underlying condition - diabetes, nerve damage, or vascular disease, for instance. In some of these cases, erectile dysfunction does not fit neatly into the 'natural part of aging' category.

There is clearly nothing wrong with treating an unfortunate symptom of a health condition with Viagra or another erectile dysfunction drug. Doing so is no different from prescribing medication to treat the insomnia that is sometimes associated with asthma, lung disease or other illnesses.

A Limp Comparison

The comparison that the article attempted to make between Viagra and both breast implants and the bald man's comb-over was similarly misguided. Quite simply, one cannot compare an FDA-approved erectile dysfunction treatment with either of these cosmetic examples.

I certainly have nothing against women who opt for breast surgery and recognize that it often has a profound effect on women's lives. However, the results obtained from the procedure have largely a psychological benefit, whereas Viagra produces a well-documented physical effect on erectile dysfunction.

The reference to the comb-over is even more ludicrous. Men who take Viagra usually point to a measurable change in their erectile dysfunction, while a man's hairstyle is a purely superficial choice that makes no physical difference to their health or abilities.

Consider the Side Effects

The article did make one point that I was able to agree with. It stressed that men who use Viagra to treat their erectile dysfunction can experience side effects and that some of the side effects reported are potentially dangerous. This is true enough.

However, here again the article stretched things considerably in suggesting that the more dangerous side effects of Viagra are far more common than they really are. In reality, the milder Viagra side effects - congestion, facial flushing, and headache - make up the overwhelming majority of reported issues. And most men accept them gladly as a small price to pay for the benefits they gain.

Viagra and Quality of Life

Certainly, men who suffer from erectile dysfunction would be wise to weigh the pros and cons of any treatment they are considering, including Viagra. In the end, though, to suggest that men ignore the potential benefits of a safe, scientifically-proven, and government-approved treatment for erectile dysfunction is no less than irresponsible.

The quality of life benefits that Viagra has given to millions of men and their partners are simply too great to dismiss.

You can find out more about Viagra and a range of other erectile dysfunction treatments, including how to order them online, by visiting the Viagra product information page on eDrugstore.md.