More men prescribed erectile dysfunction drug Viagra in Doncaster than almost anywhere else in England

The Royal College of GPs said increased awareness and less stigma surrounding erectile dysfunction may have contributed to a rise in the number of prescriptions given out across England.

Figures from the Open Prescribing Service show 36,379 prescriptions for erectile dysfunction drugs were given out in the former NHS Doncaster CCG area in the year to June.

This was down 2% from 36,978 the year before, but more than 33,702 in 2017-18, when figures first begin.

It meant there were the equivalent of 30 prescriptions for ED drugs per 100 men aged 18 and over in the area last year – one of the highest rates of all former CCGs in England.

These figures are for the number of times medication has appeared on prescriptions, but do not show the quantity of medication given, and multiple prescriptions can be given to the same patient.

Across England, erectile dysfunction drugs appeared on 4.35 million prescriptions in the year to June – up from 4.30 million in 2020-21, and 4.33 in 2017-18.

The vast majority of these prescriptions are for sildenafil, which patients can get on the NHS if they suffer from erectile dysfunction.

If you buy sildenafil outside of the NHS, it can also be known by the brand names Viagra, Aronix, Liberize and Nipatra.

The Royal College of GPs said there are likely a variety of reasons why prescriptions for ED medication are rising.

Professor Martin Marshall, chairman of the RCGP, said: "It may indicate lessening stigma around ED and increasing awareness of its treatments, as well as patients feeling more comfortable to come forward for treatment.

"One of the most well-known drugs – sildenafil, which is widely known as Viagra – also came ‘off licence’ in recent years, making it cheaper."

The cost to the NHS of erectile dysfunction drugs nationally fell from £42.6 million in the 12 months to June 2018 to just £16.1 million in the last year.

In Doncaster, it fell from £419,000 to £148,000 over this time.