Do men and women feel that Viagra has improved their sex lives

asks PHD:
A. For a start, Viagra is not yet licensed for women in this country (more about that later), and there's a problem with the concept of 'improvement' of men's sex lives

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Q. Why's that
A. Viagra is designed for use by men who are impotent, specifically those who have erectile dysfunction. Taking it if you have normal function is, in the words of one expert, 'like taking your car to the petrol station when the tank is already full'. Viagra is not an aphrodisiac.

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Q. How does it work, then
A. It works by relaxing blood vessels enough to allow blood to flow freely into the body's extremities. Clinical studies show that Viagra is most effective in men who are impotent because of physical or physiological reasons, such as diabetes, depression, high blood pressure and after treatment for prostate cancer. About 70% of such men will see an improvement.

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Q. How long does it take to work
A. Anything from 20 minutes to an hour, and then it lasts from four to six hours, so you have to plan ahead. If you take it with a heavy meal or drink lots of alcohol, the usual rules apply and it may not work.

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Q. Is Viagra safe
A. Some mild and short-lived side-effects have been reported in men taking the prescribed dose - mostly headaches and flushed cheeks, sometimes dizziness and indigestion. One of the strangest side-effects is a visual disturbance�that makes everything look as if it has a blue tint.

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Q. Wasn't Viagra linked to heart attacks
A. Yes, 73 men have died while taking Viagra in the last three years. Most of them had heart problems to begin with. It's thought the problem could be that some men, unable to get Viagra because of NHS rationing, had been buying the drug on the Internet and taking it without their doctor's knowledge. Viagra should not be taken by anyone without medial supervision.

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Q. Are there any other men who shouldn't take Viagra
A. Yes, those who have a severe heart or liver problem, angina or low blood pressure, or who have had a heart attack or stroke recently, or who are taking other treatments for erectile dysfunction.

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Q. What about Viagra for women, then
A. A new study in Italy found that Viagra could also transform the sex lives of women with sexual dysfunction. However, more trials may be needed before it's offered to women on the NHS. The same cautions apply: your GP needs to know if you're taking it, and avoid it if you have heart disease or are taking drugs for angina.

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Q. Where can I find out more
A. Visit the Impotence Association's website

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By Sheena Miller