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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask why the NHS funds viagra?

129 replies

crunchymint · 05/06/2018 22:01

Yes only men who are impotent due to medical problems get viagra on the NHS. But last year there were nearly 3 million prescriptions issued for viagra. Is this really the best use of NHS money?

OP posts:
Original poster
crunchymint · 05/06/2018 22:37

The arguments for giving women free birth control when it was first introduced - you used to have to pay for it - was that it was mainly poor women who were on benefits who could not afford birth control, and if they had more kids, it would cost the Government more in benefits than the cost of birth control.
I am not arguing this. But the argument at the time was made on an overall cost saving, NOT on making women's lives better.

OP posts:
BitOfAKerfuffle · 05/06/2018 22:38

Well I just wrote a reply and the bloody thing wouldn't post for me !
I don't believe it should be prescribed and I feel there is differenxes in the care of men and women.
I've had painful intercourse my entire sexual life, firstly told to buy lube then told to buy all these different creams and stuff for vaginal dryness (I'm not dry !) Then told it was in my head I was imagining the pain tensing myself up then told I wasn't comfortable with my partner. Told that giving birth would help (I've since had 2 births and it didn't)
Discovered during an emergency gynae surgery for another issue that nearly killed me they discovered extensive endometriosis which many women suffer from but of course there's no treatment no cure, just suck it up and deal with it the rest of your life.
I also have heavy periods because of the endometriosis to the extent of almost haemorrhage. I'm using night pads every single hour for a week coupled at times with a tampon as well ....does the nhs pay for that which is needed due to a medical issue. Do they heck ! I've to go to the chemist and buy them same way men should go to chemist and buy viagra ! But a man's right to enjoy sex seems to top that of a woman's right in my experience

siwel123 · 05/06/2018 22:40

But they don't need sex remember? It's a lifestyle choice remember?
So why should we fund birth control, shouldn't they just stop having sex?
Therefore I declare women can't now have birth control

JacquesHammer · 05/06/2018 22:41

So why should we fund birth control, shouldn't they just stop having sex?
Therefore I declare women can't now have birth control

Birth control is a treatment for menstrual disorders too. Or can we have a bye for that?

siwel123 · 05/06/2018 22:41

Well your condition is incurable so want could they prescribe you?

Original poster
crunchymint · 05/06/2018 22:42

Also in my area incontinence pads due to a medical need are not paid for by the NGS unless you need adult nappy size.

OP posts:
SandyY2K · 05/06/2018 22:42

This is in response to the IVF thread.

siwel123 · 05/06/2018 22:42

And viagra is a cure for erectile dysfunction.

I don't actually want birth control banned. I'm using the way OP says people don't need sex, so why should birth control be provided on the NHS if you've no medical need for it?

Original poster
crunchymint · 05/06/2018 22:43

So being dry is not a need, but being able to have penetrative sex is?
And I was also told to buy lubricating cream from the chemist, which I have. Common side effect of menopause.
And don't try and tell me whether sex is important to me or not. But I know it is not a necessity.

OP posts:
HeedMove · 05/06/2018 22:44

Crunchy I thibk you will find women who dont orgasm can still enjoy and find sex important. Plenty of women on here have admitted to that.

If my husband was impotent and got viagra then it wouldnt just be so he can have and enjoy sex. It would benefit me too wouldnt it.

TSSDNCOP · 05/06/2018 22:44

Yes. DH is type 1 diabetic, ED being a common side effect.

Original poster
crunchymint · 05/06/2018 22:45

siwel I want birth control to be provided free as well. But on a purely cost analysis, the Government would be crazy not to. The cost of additional kids on benefits etc are way more expensive than borth control.

OP posts:
Original poster
crunchymint · 05/06/2018 22:48

*HeedMove_ Men can still have sex you know without an erection. Its not all about penetration. Do you really think before there were reliable things to help men get erections, that all these men had no sex?
And orgasms are very important to me. I think women are taught to minimise their importance.

OP posts:
courtneyseb · 05/06/2018 22:48

It is a genuine issue. Viagra is available over the counter

So are many other things that people go to the GP to get a script for. Infant paracetamol, Aspirin, Piriton?

You are missing one MAJOR point here. It's not just about the men.

siwel123 · 05/06/2018 22:48

Ok. So again shouldn't people just not have sex if they don't want kids or buy it themselves then @crunchymint. If guys with a medical condition shouldn't be able to have sex without paying then surely women without a medical condition mist pay for birth control if they don't want to get pregnant and have sex without a condom?

BitOfAKerfuffle · 05/06/2018 22:49

siwel123
Well maybe they could stop spending thousands on viagra and investigate a cure into a condition that affects a quite significant number of women. It doesn't even just affect their sex life it affects the entire quality of their life with significant pain, infertility, heavy bleeding etc. But no that will never happen.

Diangled · 05/06/2018 22:49

Good grief this thread is dreadful. I’m sorry I ever posted on it. As it happens I’m devastated my husband even needs it as it is a reminder of his diagnosis of a life limiting illness. Of course he doesn’t need to have sex, neither do I but I’m fairly sure that if it was removed completely (& remember with viagra a spontaneous sex life is no more) he would be getting a prescription for anti depressants instead.

HeedMove · 05/06/2018 22:49

Crunchy the government only pays for two childrens benefit now. So thats a moot point.

Vaginal dryness a possible condition from the menopause, that every woman in the world goes through would be a ridiculous expenditure to the nhs. Its a silly comparison.

siwel123 · 05/06/2018 22:50

Well how do I have sex without an erection?
Do I shove my limp penis inside my wife and wiggle it? Hmm. No I don't.

Havabiscuit · 05/06/2018 22:50

I think this is part of the problem with funding the nhs has. We should perhaps better define what is a illness and what is an impaired lifestyle. If we want to fund lifestyle things like IVF, Viagra, smoking cessation etc ( and I think we probably should as it’s more cost effective via the nhs) then we have to pay more via our taxes.

siwel123 · 05/06/2018 22:51

I'm sorry there isn't a cure. But removing medication for a medical condition isn't fair either.

I agree the NHS should fund whatever you need until a cure is found.

Original poster
crunchymint · 05/06/2018 22:52

HeedMove Penetrative sex with vaginal dryness is not a pleasant experience. So because lots of women get it, it doesn't matter?

Siwel If that is your only idea of what sex is, go and read a sex manual.

OP posts:
JacquesHammer · 05/06/2018 22:52

I agree the NHS should fund whatever you need until a cure is found

Except it isn’t. Which then brings us back to a hierarchy of need.

And women lose out.

madamginger · 05/06/2018 22:53

viagra is not prescribed on the NHS, it’s to expensive however generic sildenafil is, and it’s cheap as chips. Something like £2 for 4 tablets.
Lubricants are also prescribed for women.

HeedMove · 05/06/2018 22:53

Crunchy yeah im sure they felt so confident attempting oral sex, penetration etc with non erect penises. I bet their self esteem and enjoyment was through the roof.

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