In the last few years, there has been a wealth of research regarding the possible carcinogenic effects of Viagra. While the results have been equivocal—at best—the jury is still out when it comes to the long-term health effects of this popular medication.
Now, a new study from the Netherlands assesses the risk of prostate cancer and other types of cancer in men taking Viagra compared to those who are not. Researchers from the Julius Center in Utrecht and the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam followed 1,300 men for over 10 years, analyzing data on their sexual habits and medication use. They discovered that men who took Viagra were at a slightly increased risk of getting prostate cancer, but not overall cancer. The findings are published in the journal CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
The Reason Behind The Study
While it’s always great to learn more about medicine, the purpose of this study is a little more complex. As Dr. Ellen J. Buckwalter, one of the study authors, told Science News, “We were actually doing the study because we were interested in sexual differences in health and especially in prostate cancer. The initial study was designed to examine the sexual differences in health. So, initially, we weren’t even thinking about the medications that men were taking.”
When they started analyzing the data, they found that men who used Viagra were 1.36 times more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than those who didn’t take the medication. This was significant, but the researchers wanted to see if there was also a link between Viagra and other types of cancer. So, they looked into kidney cancer, colorectal cancer, and endometrial cancer (which affects women’s reproductive organs). There were no significant links between Viagra and any of these types of cancer. This suggests that while Viagra may increase the risk of prostate cancer, it doesn’t appear to do the same for other types of cancer.
How Does Viagra Work?
So, how does Viagra work? It’s a drug that belongs to a class of medications known as phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5 inhibitors). PDE5 inhibitors work by relaxing the muscles in the blood vessels of the penis. This improves blood flow to the penis and gives the user an erection. There’s also a similar medication, sildenafil, which is derived from the plant species Sildenafilacauvia. Sildenafil was originally developed to treat erectile dysfunction in men (and since it’s a similar drug, some people argue it has similar effects to Viagra).
While there’s not a lot of data available regarding the side effects of PDE5 inhibitors (and sildenafil), the research that is available suggests that these medications are relatively safe. In particular, there is little evidence that these medications cause cancer. In fact, a large majority of the studies that analyze the risk of PDE5 inhibitors (and sildenafil) suggest that they are not carcinogenic. Even more encouraging is that a lot of the research that is available suggests that PDE5 inhibitors (and sildenafil) may have anticancer properties.
What Does This Mean For Clinicians?
So, what does this mean for clinicians? First off, it’s always great when new research comes out regarding medication safety. However, in this case, it’s more complex than that. As Dr. Buckwalter told Science News, “From our point of view, as clinicians, what this means is that if you have erectile dysfunction, you may want to consider trying a PDE5 inhibitor (such as Viagra) or sildenafil. There are several advantages to using these medications. For instance, they are easy to take, they have minimal side effects, and they are effective. In contrast, if you have prostate cancer, you may not want to try these medications. You may need alternative treatments.”
This is a complex issue, especially since it is not completely clear what the long-term adverse effects of these medications are. While there is good data suggesting that they are relatively safe when used for the short-term treatment of erectile dysfunction, there is also some evidence that they may be carcinogenic. For clinicians, this is a matter of weighing the pros and the cons and making a decision that is right for the patient.
The Takeaway
Ultimately, what does this all mean? It means that while there is some evidence that Viagra may increase the risk of prostate cancer, there is also evidence that it may be protective against other types of cancer. Clinicians are reminded that while there is limited data available, these medications may be associated with different types of cancer. Therefore, men who use these medications should have their PSA levels checked regularly, and they should also consult with their clinician if they experience any concerning symptoms.