Young men and the medicalization of sexuality: use of erectile dysfunction medication among medical students

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the reasons that lead to erectile dysfunction (ED) medications usage by medical students at a public university in Minas Gerais (MG). Methods: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive study conducted with 123 male individuals aged between 19 and 40 years, who are students in the Medicine course at the Federal University of São João del-Rei (UFSJ) in Divinópolis, MG. The use of iPDE-5, their motivations, and the known and presented side effects were investigated through self-administered questionnaires. For statistical analysis, chi-square and Fisher's tests were used. Results: There was a prevalence of 17.1% (N=21) of iPDE-5 use. 113 participants reported not suffering from any type of ED; of these, 13.3% (N=15) used the medications. Improvement in sexual performance was the most reported motivation (31%). Conclusion: Recreational use of iPDE-5 medications is frequent and primarily motivated by the desire for ideal sexual performance. The research conducted allows for a broader understanding of this issue and highlights the need for more studies on the long-term impact of these medications on young people.