While Viagra, the life saver of many men with erectile dysfunction, has helped improved the sex lives of males, it has failed to boost their relationships notwithstanding its assistance in keeping their partners happy in bed.

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A study of 40 men with erectile dysfunction involved in clinical trials using Viagra discovered that before these impotent men took the tablets, their quality of life and relationships were relatively good despite issues with failing to satisfy their wives or partners, and depression symptoms as well.

After taking the drug, which uses PDE5 inhibitors to relax the man's blood vessels and allow greater blood flow toward the penis to achieve and sustain an erection, there was a general increase in male satisfaction and self-esteem. But there was no improvement in their overall life satisfaction or overall relationship satisfaction.

Explaining the findings published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, University of Maryland Medical Centre urologist Dr Andrew Kramer said, quoted by LiveScience, "It's simplistic to think that fixing an erection issue would solve relationship issues. Happiness is very complicated, and erections are just one small piece of it ... a lot of couples still need additional therapy."

The study pushed for treatment of men suffering from ED to target both physical and psychological aspects of the ailment which affects about 40 per cent of males by the time they reach 40, and which goes up to 65 per cent when they reach over 60.

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