Uppsala University
When medications for erectile dysfunction became less expensive and their use increased, the number of suicides among men aged 50-60 decreased in Sweden. This is the finding of a new study from the Uppsala University.
“This is another indication of how important sexual intimacy and close relationships can be throughout life, that for some people they can be so closely linked to life satisfaction and the ability to face life’s setbacks,” says Terry Hartig, Professor of Environmental Psychology at Uppsala University and one of the researchers behind the study.
During the period 2007–2012, an average of 62,000 men in Sweden used medications for erectile dysfunction. This number increased to 101,000 on average for the years 2014–2017, after the patent for the major bestselling brand Viagra expired and it became available freely on the market. Before the patent for Viagra, which has the active ingredient sildenafil, expired in July 2013, 12 tablets cost about SEK 1,200. Once the patent expired and competitors began producing generic versions with the same active substance, the market price fell to about SEK 300 for the same number of tablets, so a quarter of the previous price.