Younger Men Turning to Sex Drugs

Dec. 5, 2004 — -- Remember when Bob Dole was Viagra's pitchman?

Now, the commercials are more likely to feature younger actors in sexier settings.

The makers of Viagra had to pull one ad, in part, because it didn't even mention that Viagra is supposed to be for men with medical problems -- usually older men.

But according to one medical journal, the number of prescriptions for men under 45 has jumped 300 percent since the drug was introduced in 1998.

Many young men with no sexual dysfunction now admit using anti-impotence drugs recreationally before heading out for a night on the town. Some taking Viagra call it "getting V'd up."

A 24-year-old man named Marcus said, "I decided to give it a try and it was good. It really works."

One doctor says younger, healthy men may be feeling the pressure to boost their sexual performance to keep up with their female partners.

"Call it the 'Sex and The City' syndrome," said Dr. Abraham Morgantaler, an associate clinical professor of urology at Harvard Medical School. "I now, for the first time, see men coming into the office who say, 'Women out there are aggressive. They're telling me what they want, how they like it, and they're giving me instructions, and I feel like a technician.'"

There are no clear-cut answers on the safety and long-term health effects of many of these libido-enhancing drugs. Even the experts disagree about when and how they should be used.