Surprising
Impact OF Viagra On Love And Relationships
by robert stalling
In 1998,
Viagra was first introduced to the world, and it is fair to say that
the world has not been the same since. The impact of this medication
has been enormous, not just in the narrow area of treating erectile
dysfunction (ED) for which it was approved, but also in the way we
think of sex and sexuality, and even in the realm of relationships
between men and women.
Millions
of men in the United States have tried Pfizer's wonder drug, sildenafil,
better known as Viagra, and there are thus millions of women who have
also seen its effects on their husbands, boyfriends, and lovers. Many
other millions of men and women wonder about whether Viagra can offer
a solution for their own sexual and emotional problems or for the
problems of their partners. We human beings are sexual animals, after
all. And unfortunately,
our sex lives are not always the way we want them to be. So it's no
surprise that when sex goes sour, relationships suffer in other ways
as well.
Everyone
wants to know about Viagra, and many are interested in trying it,
whether or not they think they have an erection problem. There are
always a good number of Viagra questions, such as, "What happens
when a young, healthy man with normal sexual function takes Viagra?"
Or "Can a woman tell during sex that her partner has taken Viagra?"
Or "Is it true that Viagra increases a man's sex drive?"
Viagra
quickly tapped into a set of wishful fantasies that mirrored our culture's
hunger for certainty and the quick fix. Supported by stories that
described elderly men restored to such sexual vitality by Viagra that
they abandoned their wives in favor of younger women, a conventional
wisdom arose that Viagra was a fountain of youth, a sure cure, the
real deal. Baby boomers could now look forward to fabulous sex well
into their nineties. Men shared Viagra stories with each other at
cocktail parties or around the office water cooler.
"All
we can say is 'Wow!'" says one man, and other men listening in
wonder how their lives might be different if they also took the magic
blue pill.
Women too have been targeted to confirm Viagra's ability to create
satisfaction and serenity within a relationship where frustration
and friction had once been the rule. One of the most successful early
Pfizer ads showed a series of couples happily dancing together after
Viagra apparently cured the loss of rhythm in their relationship.
Viagra
jokes became a staple of comedy acts on late-night television (Have
you heard the one about the man who swallowed Viagra, but it stuck
in
his throat? He wound up with a very stiff neck!), thus ensuring its
place in our cultural lexicon. Viagra tapped into both our fantasies
and our embarrassment about sexuality in a way that no other drug
had ever done. When, for example, was the last time you heard a joke
about a new cholesterol-lowering medication?
Skillful
marketing contributed to our perception of Viagra as the pill that
put the "man" in "manly." Star professional athletes-vigorous
men such as baseball's Most Valuable Player Rafael Palmeiro of the
Texas Rangers and NASCAR driver Mark Martin-endorse the medication
in widely seen advertisements. Other kinds of athletes use Viagra
as well. Hugh Hefner, the aging head of the Playboy empire who is
known for his bevy of beautiful
blondes, gives Viagra credit for maintaining his pleasure quotient.
Rumor has it that he provides bowls of Viagra tablets at his famous
parties.
Yes,
the drug is enormously powerful, and it can be a lifesaver for many
men, but it has also turned a bright spotlight on previously hidden
areas of sexuality and relationships. In particular, it forces couples
to decide what is real in their relationships and what is not. I have
come to see Viagra as providing a window into the psyche of men, and
perhaps indirectly into the psyche of women as well, since women are
not immune from unduly high expectations regarding the benefits of
Viagra and its potential to provide sexual healing.
About
the Author
robert stalling-webmaster of online pharmacy for quality and cheap
generic drugs. http://www.Mynetpharma.com. stalling_robert@yahoo.com.
