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Is sex only for the healthy and wealthy?

Ströberg P, Hedelin H, Bergström A

ED-Kliniken, Skövde, Sweden. peter.stroeberg@telia.com

OBJECTIVE: To study reasons for Sildenafil (a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor) treatment abortion in erectile dysfunction (ED), with special regard to the relation between cost and use. METHODS: Men (N = 132) with ED, where treatment with Sildenafil was instituted between 1998 and 2000, were mailed a questionnaire in February 2003, regarding their current ED treatment, including frequency of use, reasons for change or discontinuation, effect on partner relations, and total income of the household. RESULTS: The response rate was 69%. Nearly every second man (47%) still used Sildenafil at least twice per month. The remaining 53% had aborted oral ED treatment: 10% due to return of normal erections, 43% due to (either alone or in combination): cost of treatment, impaired health, loss of efficacy, change to another ED treatment, or side-effects. Cost was the most common cause (48%) for discontinuation. In low-income households, rationing of treatment or abortion due to the cost was reported significantly (P < 0001) more often (86%) than in high-income households (35%). CONCLUSION: Just under half of all the patients (47%) used Sildenafil for more than 2 years after initiation of treatment. The cost of the treatment is an important factor for patient compliance in households with a low income, despite the fact that the treatment is highly effective and improves the partner relationship.

Published 19 January 2007 in J Sex Med, 4(1): 176-82.
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