Viagra Could Reduce Men's Fertility

Taking Viagra could reduce men's fertility, suggest the results of a new study. The anti-impotence drug not only speeds sperm up, researchers found, but it also caused the vital reaction needed to penetrate an egg to occur prematurely. "Viagra was introduced in 1998 and since then it has been prescribed to over 16 million men," says David Glenn, one of the team that conducted the test tube experiments at Queen's University in Belfast, Northern Ireland. "Most use it for impotence and aren't contemplating having a family, so this has no implications for them," he says. However, younger men are using it recreationally, and they may be trying to start a family. Furthermore, an audit of fertility clinics by the team revealed that 42 per cent use Viagra to help men produce sperm samples on demand. Glenn stresses the work is preliminary but adds that, if confirmed, would-be fathers and fertility clinics would need to re-examine their use of Viagra.