Impotence

WHEN urologist Dr. Irwin Goldstein declared in 1997: "There are only two kinds of male cyclists -- those who are impotent and those who will be impotent," many bike riders scoffed. Saying the equipment housed in their spandex shorts worked just fine, they optimistically kept riding. Several prominent urologists dismissed Goldstein's claims, saying that they were based on a small sample of riders and that the cardiovascular benefits of cycling outweighed any risk of impotence.

Viagra and other erectile-dysfunction drugs are about to bear new warnings that users might experience sudden hearing loss. It's not clear that the drugs truly trigger hearing loss, but the Food and Drug Administration decided Thursday to add a warning about the possible risk after counting 29 reports of the problem since 1996 among users of this family of medicines. The impotence drugs Viagra, Cialis and Levitra will bear the warnings.

Some products advertised online as natural alternatives to impotence drugs such as Viagra illegally contain the same active ingredients as prescription medicines, the Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday. The FDA warned consumers not to buy or use seven of the so-called dietary supplements sold online to treat impotence and enhance sexual performance. The list includes Zimaxx, which FDA testing showed contains sildenafil, the same active ingredient in Viagra. Viagra, made by Pfizer Inc.

Nuts, crocodiles and witch trials may seem to have little to do with Viagra -- but at one time or another, they've all been employed against erectile dysfunction. For centuries, doctors struggled to pinpoint the causes of male impotence, blaming such factors as stress, diet, the wrath of deities and unattractive women. Ancient Greek physician Hippocrates attributed impotence to horseback riding; one of his contemporaries placed the blame on childhood trauma; Egyptians to evil spells.

Watermelon is a sweet way to top off a Fourth of July cookout, and researchers say it can set off fireworks too: Its effects can be similar to Viagra. Watermelon has citrulline, which can trigger production of arginine, an amino acid that benefits the heart and the circulatory and immune systems. "Arginine boosts nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels, the same basic effect that Viagra has, to treat erectile dysfunction and maybe even prevent it," said Bhimu Patil, director of Texas A&M's Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center in Lubbock.

They came in updos, tulle, tiaras and pink. They sat on laps and sang along. If the hordes of young girls who showed up for Tuesday's opening night of "Annie" are any indication, the show, playing through Sunday at the Kodak Theatre, is a hot ticket for the under-12 crowd. Set in 1933, this Tony-sweeping musical debuted in 1977, and its themes of economic uncertainty and presidential impotence resonate once again. It's Christmas- time in Manhattan, but the Santas are thin, and no one can spare a dime for the apple seller.

Medicare's new prescription benefit will cover sexual performance drugs, like Viagra, in addition to medications for such ailments as high blood pressure and heart disease, program officials confirmed Monday. The move into what some consider "lifestyle" -- rather than life-saving -- pharmaceuticals is being criticized by conservatives, who see it as an unnecessary frill for a program that already is projected to cost at least $400 billion over its first decade.

An investigation into whether Viagra and other popular impotence drugs may cause permanent eye damage is unlikely to lead to a recall, federal officials and medical experts said Friday, but could prompt new warnings. The Food and Drug Administration is looking into 38 reports of eye damage in men who took Viagra, four reports involving Cialis, and one linked to Levitra. About 30 million men worldwide have taken the drugs.

People could no longer use government funds to help pay for impotence drugs such as Viagra under a measure the House passed Friday. The House voted 285-121 to pass an amendment to ban Medicare or Medicaid payments for Pfizer Inc.'s Viagra and competing drugs Levitra and Cialis. Later Friday, the House passed the bill containing the amendment, 250 to 151. The overall legislation, providing about $602 billion in funds, is the largest domestic spending measure Congress will approve this year.

Men with erectile dysfunction are more likely than other men to experience chest pain, a heart attack or a stroke during the next seven years, a new study of men 55 and older has found. The research adds to evidence that impotence can be a warning sign of heart disease. The findings suggest that men who see their doctors for impotence drugs also should consider getting screened for heart disease, said study co-author Dr.