Experts Fear a Risky Recipe: Viagra, Drugs and HIV

Like many straight men, many gay men are using Viagra as a remedy for erectile dysfunction. But surveys disclose that many gay Viagra users are taking it along with ecstasy and other illegal drugs, leading some HIV educators to fear a rise in unprotected anal intercourse. And, when combined with the nitrite-based "poppers" some gay men inhale to heighten sensations during sex, Viagra can cause dizziness, strokes or heart attacks.

In a recent survey of men visiting a San Francisco STD clinic, 32 percent of gay respondents had used Viagra in the past year, compared to just 7 percent of straight men. The gay men who used Viagra reported having had more recent sexual partners than the gay men who did not use it, and they were more likely to have an STD currently. Thirty percent of gay HIV-negative Viagra users reported having had unprotected anal sex with HIV-positive men or with men of unknown HIV status, compared to just 15 percent of gay HIV-negative men not using Viagra. More than half the gay men had obtained Viagra from a friend instead of a doctor.

Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, director of STD prevention at the San Francisco Health Department, said that some gay men use Viagra to counteract the effects of speed, which can cause erection difficulties. "Viagra can turn people with chemically induced erectile dysfunction into more effective transmitters of HIV and other STDs," he said.

Still, it is unclear whether Viagra use leads to risky behavior or whether those who engage in risky sex are more likely to use Viagra. And some Viagra advocates suggest that it may actually reduce HIV transmission by making it easier to maintain an erection while wearing a condom.

Klausner said he hoped the San Francisco survey's results would help persuade Viagra-maker Pfizer to create educational campaigns about the drug's use and abuse. A Pfizer spokesperson said he did not know whether the company would pursue a gay-oriented ad campaign. "Our position to not use Viagra for recreational purposes is well-known, but any pharmaceutical product can be abused," he said.

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