Men taking Viagra may be at the risk of having a reduced fertility. The report coming out of the latest study on the effect of Viagra in the motility and life span of sperm would definitely give a rude shock to many would-be fathers, who have been feeding on a staple diet of Viagra for an enhanced sexuality. Men may need some time of reckoning, weighing the pros and cons of the after-effects of Viagra use, before they start using the erectile dysfunction pill.

David Glenn, one of the pioneers in the team that conducted the test tube experiments at Queen's University in Belfast, Northern Ireland said, Viagra, the anti-impotence drug speeds sperm up, and also cause the vital reaction needed to penetrate an egg to occur prematurely. It is true that most men use Viagra for reasons of impotence, and majority of the users are in their middle ages, with no contemplation to father a child. It may not be an issue for this class of users.

However, the rising number of young people with erectile dysfunction, taking Viagra may need to give second thoughts to Viagra use, if at all they have plans to become fathers in the near or far future. And with lots of youngsters taking Viagra for recreational ends, many people may come to regret their nasty decisions later in life.

The research team took 45 semen samples from men attending a fertility clinic, and introduced Viagra to half of them, while keeping the other half for a controlled experiment. The dose of Viagra was clinically measured to have a concentration, equivalent to the level of Viagra in blood plasma, when a man takes a 100ml. pill. It was found that the sperm treated with Viagra started speeding up in 15 minutes flat and lasted for about 135 minutes.

After two hours of observation it was also seen that the around 79 % more sperm were in a fully reacted state in the Viagra samples, than in the controlled experiment. In this acrosome reaction, the head of the sperm releases digestive enzymes that are needed to break down the wall of the egg shell for a sperm to enter an egg to fertilize. The premature reaction of the sperm may be detrimental to the process of fertilization.

Sildenafil, the main component of Viagra inhibits phosphodiesterase, an enzyme that helps in the breakdown of messenger molecules related to energy production. The inhibition of energy breakdown leads to the increase of energy level in the cells, resulting in the augmented motility of the sperm, which can be harmful to the development of the embryo. It definitely does not call for Viagra use, if a person cares to produce heirs.

It is high time that the users of Viagra comprehend the dire consequences of Viagra consumption for recreational and frivolous purposes. If you have a desire to sire a few offspring worth your salt, start taking Viagra with a pinch of salt.