Erectile Dysfunction

One of the things about sex is the mythology. As we grow up, it starts off as this mysterious thing that adults do. Then as we begin to physically mature, it becomes more obvious what adults do and the anticipation begins to build. With friends, we speculate on what it will feel like, we bet on which one of us will be the first. Stories flash round school — that P is a stud, that Q is a slut. Gender stereotypes are formed early. Except that all too often, the first fumbling efforts are a disappointment. Those snatched moments of pleasure are uncomfortable and slightly embarrassing. Then you get into a relationship and the real question gets asked. What’s to like about sex, anyway? It’s something you do with the same person, over and over again. It gets boring after a month or so. But then we fall in love. Ah, this mysterious thing called love. According to the guys who write pop songs, there ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone and you always have her on your mind. Suddenly, there’s supposed to be a whole new meaning to the repeated act. Now it’s an affirmation of your continuing love and affection. Except that you’re not always in the mood at the same time and what was exciting at first grows less so. What should a couple do when there’s less sex? Should this be considered a medical problem? Everything is probably working as it should. It’s just there’s less interest. This thing called libido is replaced by a growing loneliness as the two that were one become two again. Of course, a man is supposed to be driven by the desire to have hot, passionate sex every night. The myths of frequency and enjoyment cling tightly to us. If there are problems, they can so easily be fixed by taking the little blue pill. Even if we failed to get an erection for the last two or three nights, viagra can fix everything. Except it can’t. Viagra only works to produce an erection when we are sexually stimulated. If, for some reason, we stop finding sex so interesting, no pill in the world is going to save us from our own lack of desire. Then perhaps we discover that we remain in love with our partners but not in love with sex. Alternatively, we find the relationship is at an end and go find a new interest in sex with a new partner.

It is always pleasing to find a government agency with a specialized website. In this case, the FDA maintains a site devoted to generic drugs at http://www.fda.gov/cder/ogd/. There are over two-hundred-thirty staff whose task it is to ensure that the generic drugs approved are safe for consumers to use. Just to give you an idea of the scale of the operation, in 2004, there were 563 applications made to license the production of a generic drug. There were 880 applications made in 2007. In other words, a vast number of generic drugs come on to the market every year. They are in every way as safe and effective as the original branded version they now compete with. So generic viagra is identical to branded viagra except that it is cheaper. As a part of its function, the Office of Generic Drugs in the FDA monitors and researches the way in which the market works when generics enter. The supposed advantage is that any competition from a generic manufacturer will force the holder of the patent to drop its price. The consumer therefore benefits immediately. But its research shows that one generic manufacturer has very little effect on prices within the market. The FDA has a detailed analysis of the market from 1999 to 2004 and price is not significantly affected until a second generic manufacturer starts to sell into the market. The reason is simple. When the first generic competitor enters, even a small price reduction gives it a market edge. But when a second company appears, the two generic manufacturers compete with each other to set the price for a generic version of the original drug. The average result is half the original branded price. In fact, if you now look at the prices for generic viagra you will find it is often less than half the price of the branded version. The greater the quantity you buy, the better the price per tablet (plus the possibility of bonus tablets from some of the online pharmacies). This is a perfect working example of the research in action. It is also a perfect explanation for Big Pharma’s dislike of generic manufacturers. Once two generic manufacturers start competing with each other, the original manufacturer’s profit margin drops like a stone. It’s great for the consumer. Bad news for the stockholders.