A LITTLE diamond-shaped blue pill turned 10 yesterday and 35 million men in 120 countries worldwide are better off for it.
Viagra, which is used to treat male erectile dysfunction or impotence, was first unveiled in 1998 and introduced in Singapore a year later, in 1999.
The increased public awareness and education it triggered has led more men to face the issue of impotence head on.
Senior consultant urologist Ho Siew Hong sees about twice the number of men with impotence now than a decade ago.
He estimates that about four in 10 men older than 40 years have some form of erectile dysfunction now, compared with just two in 10 a decade ago.
While the ageing population and age-related diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure contribute to the rise, it is also because more men are coming forward, said Dr Ho, from Gleneagles Medical Centre.
About 20 years ago, Asian men avoided the issue "because it was a blow to a man's pride and manhood", said Professor Peter Lim, a urologist with 28 years of experience.
Prof Lim, the president of the Society for Men's Health in Singapore, suggested that Viagra could have also increased sexual permissiveness.
"It may not have been the only factor but it may have helped create a sexual revolution, where sex is a casual, bargainable commodity that doesn't require marriage," he said.
However, the pill has improved marriages for many, including one man who wanted to be known only as Mr Tan.
He said: "My wife knew about my problem and was understanding. But the day I tried Viagra, both my wife and I were very, very happy."
