Sildenafil (<i>Viagra</i>) in the treatment of male erectile dysfunction in Nairobi

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of sildenafil (Viagra) in the treatment of male erectile dysfunction in Nairobi.
Design: Prospective open label extension study.
Setting: Urology clinics at the Nairobi Hospital, Kenyatta National Hospital and the author's private clinic in Hurlingham, Nairobi.

Participants: Two hundred and nineteen adult male patients with erectile dysfunction.

Results: The age range was 33-80 years with a mean of 62.5 years and a peak incidence in the 60-69 year age group. One hundred and nineteen patients (54.34%) had organic causes, 85
patients (38.81%) had pyschogenic causes and 15 patients had mixed causes. Two hundred patients (91.32%) had improved sexual function after treatment with viagra. This improvement was sustained during the study period of sixteen weeks and included improved erectile and
orgasmic functions and overall sexual satisfaction. One hundred and fifty seven of these patients responded to therapy with 50mg of viagra; 40 patients with 25mg and three patients with 100mg of therapy. Nineteen patients (8.68%) had no improvement in sexual function
after viagra administration. Seven patients (3.2%) had adverse effects which were mild and transient. They included mild headaches in three patients, mild dyspepsia in two patients and facial flushing and nausea and vomiting in one patient, respectively.

Conclusion: Oral sildenafil (Viagra) is an effective well tolerated and simple treatment for male erectile dysfunction in the majority of cases. The cost of treatment at about ten United States dollars for the 50mg tablet is prohibitive and may limit its wide use by many deserving patients in this locality.