"A Drug For Life"

[Visionoyahweh]

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012/05 ... ?mobile=nc

comparing Viagra to RU-486 was comparing apples and oranges or more like comparing life and death. Viagra is a wonderful medical advancement in that can help couples with sexual disfunction issues…it can even help in producing life. RU486 always destroys life by taking the life of the unborn child.

Gazelka did not respond to Marty’s questions about whether he would sponsor a bill to collect information about men who are prescribed Viagra, similar to “databases created in various other states to gather information on women who obtain abortions.â€

[gustava]

Viagra is for old dudes past child bearing who can't get it up.

[TXDuck]

Viagra is for old dudes past child bearing who can't get it up.

Not necessarily old dudes. There are young to old dudes that can't get it up for a variety of reasons. Also, you don't necessarily need Viagra to get ejaculate. However, it's not really here nor there. If men get access to drugs that help them control their sexuality, women should be afforded the same rights. And yes, controlling your procreation is controlling your sexuality. As an adult, you should be the only one calling the shots on how you express your sexuality. (Blah blah for obvious exceptions.)

[Elle]

Why is Viagra covered by most insurance but fertility treatments are rarely covered?

[anniebgood]

Why is Viagra covered by most insurance but fertility treatments are rarely covered?

Because big pharma says so.

You only get 6 pills a month if you are RX Viagra per my insurance (I looked it up not that the errant spouse needs it).

Sad isn't it?

[uber frau]

What about when RU-486 is used to treat a molar pregnancy? Oh yes, that's right. The life it's saving is just an incubator anyway...

[flojo]

Why is Viagra covered by most insurance but fertility treatments are rarely covered?

This! This!

[Kishiria]

Studies in Canada showed that RU-486 is an amazing drug against breast cancer.

But never mind the womens' lives, cause OMG t eh baybeez.

[ilovetchotchkes]

I know someone whose MOM is on viagra. Its apparently prescribed for blood pressure in women sometimes.... :lol:

Fertility not being covered is horrible. It just is. You'd think that the insurance companies would want you to have to pay for another dependent...

[shesinsane]

Not necessarily old dudes. There are young to old dudes that can't get it up for a variety of reasons. Also, you don't necessarily need Viagra to get ejaculate. However, it's not really here nor there. If men get access to drugs that help them control their sexuality, women should be afforded the same rights. And yes, controlling your procreation is controlling your sexuality. As an adult, you should be the only one calling the shots on how you express your sexuality. (Blah blah for obvious exceptions.)

It's also used for pets with a heart condition. :)

[Kitten]

I know someone whose MOM is on viagra. Its apparently prescribed for blood pressure in women sometimes....

Actually, Viagra was originally developed and tested as a drug for controlling/lowering blood pressure. It was only when the first human test results started coming back, and they found that a significant majority of the men were reporting this "side effect," that it was retargeted for ED.

A group of pharmaceutical chemists at Pfizer's Sandwich, a research facility in Kent (England), worked together to synthesize a compound named Sildenafil. The medicine was initially formulated to treat hypertension angina pectoris (a symptom of ischaemic heart disease) and chest pains caused from the inadequacy of the blood circulation to the heart. The drug was tried on men in Morriston Hospital (Swansea), in 1991 & 1992. The clinical trials were conducted under the supervision of Ian Osterloh, who suggested that the drug had very little effects on treating angina, but marked significant changes in the penile erections. Following the clinical trial and the discovery that Sildenafil was good for those suffering from penile erection, Pfizer decided to commercialize the drug, as Viagra, as a remedy for erectile dysfunction.

Although I should note, "was good for those suffering from penile erection" is obviously a misstatement. :lol:

[slickcat79]

I know someone whose MOM is on viagra. Its apparently prescribed for blood pressure in women sometimes.... :lol:

Fertility not being covered is horrible. It just is. You'd think that the insurance companies would want you to have to pay for another dependent...

Except that pregnancy/birth/early infancy under conventional settings can be very expensive for an insurance company, plus babies and young kids get sick more easily, and typically see the doctor more often than adults. Also lots of insurance plans, particularly those that are employer-provided, will provide a "family care" plan that will cover all of your children/dependents for the same rate, regardless of how many you have.

It's frustrating that insurance won't cover the problems resulting from a reproductive system that is not functioning correctly, but logical from their perspective. As I understand it, most insurance companies are totally on board with the idea that they have to cover contraception for those that need it because that's a much cheaper prospect than all the care relating to pregnancy and birth.

[TXDuck]

As I understand it, most insurance companies are totally on board with the idea that they have to cover contraception for those that need it because that's a much cheaper prospect than all the care relating to pregnancy and birth.

Personal experience, my insurance company was much better at covering contraception and fertility limiting items than pretty much any other drugs or procedures. Case in point, they balked at having to cover some serious antibiotic one of my kids had to have, even though I had to pay 35% out of pocket. But they covered my tubal 100%. Go figure.

We have since switched insurance companies. As I don't need anymore contraceptive interventions, I have no idea how good this company is.