Recent medical literature reports recreationl usage of phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE5is) in men with no erectile dysfunction (ED), as well as in women. We studied what proportion of male physicians without ED and female physicians, who prescribe PDE5is on a regular basis, use PDE5is.

Male and female physicians who prescribe PDE5is on a regular basis have completed an anonymous questionnaire concerning their use of PDE5is. The control group included male physicians who rarely or never prescribed PDE5is.

Overall, 82 physicians mean ages 42.0±10.3 years, completed the questionnaire: 69 male physicians and 13 female physicians. Most of the physicians were family physicians (28/82; 34.1%), Internists (27/82; 32.9%), and urologists (12/82; 14.6%). Ten (12.2%) male physicians reported ED. Among male physicians who prescribed PDE5is on a regular basis and had no ED (n=28), 53.6% used PDE5is once (n=8) or several times (n=7). Among male physicians who rarely or never prescribed PDE5is and had no ED (n=31), 29.0% used PDE5is once (n=7) or several times (n=2). The 13 female physicians in our sample did not use PDE5is or prescribed PDE5i to their partners.

The more you prescribe PDE5is, the more you use PDE5is. Many male physicians, who have no ED and prescribe PDE5is on a regular basis, also use PDE5is personally. These physicians probably feel the safety profile of PDE5is is strong enough to allow these agents for personal recreational usage.