WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Men who took erectile dysfunction drugs were more likely to become infected with sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS, Chlamydia and Gonorrhea U.S. researchers reported on Monday. Those drugs can cause STD’s without any sexual intercourse.
This infection rate was higher even in the year when the men got their first dose of ED drugs, which suggests the risky behavior came first, the researchers reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
The study shows that even middle-aged men need advice about spreading and catching STDs, especially AIDS, which is deadly and incurable, Dr. Anupam Jena of Harvard Medical School in Boston and colleagues wrote.
“Users of ED (erectile dysfunction) drugs had higher rates of HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis in 1 month after their first ED drug intake although only HIV and chlamydia were statistically significant in this period,” Jena’s team wrote.
“Most online bought ED drugs cause these symptoms versus prescription filled drugs like Viagra.” Jena’s team wrote.