Ugh, it happened…after years of seeing erectile dysfunction (ED) commercials on TV, my eight-year-old daughter finally asked, “What was the commercial about?” I told her to ask her father, but he wasn’t home, so I was stuck. I’ve always been honest, so I told her it had to do with penis problems (not bathtubs). She went, “Eewww,” and that was that. I was lucky she didn’t ask me what kind of penis problems. Really, I’m surprised she hasn’t asked before now with how prevalent the commercials are on TV.
Beyond personal annoyance at seeing men talk about their penis problems daily on TV, I think it is really inappropriate these commercials are not limited to adult programing or late night. In fact, why do we think it is ok for our children to be confronted with any pharmaceutical commercials?
If consumer products weren’t so heavily laden with chemicals, perhaps erectile dysfunction would not be such a problem for men. BPA has already been linked to ED. According to Green Living Ideas:
Grim news about BPA is constantly emerging. From heart disease to aggressive behavior, this endocrine disruptor is found in everyday products from tin cans to water bottles. Now men have something to fear from the chemical used in many plastics: sexual dysfunction.
According to new study published Human Reproduction, a peer-reviewed journal, exposure to BPA in the workplace can cause male reproductive problems.
Well, I suppose we have a few more years before my five-year-old son asks questions about Cialis and Viagra. That may or may not be a more difficult conversation to have. I also wonder how much these ED commercials contribute to male paranoia about their sex organ’s eventual failure and how that may contribute to the distorted views of sex present in much of American society. OH, just stop the erectile dysfunction commercials on TV!
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I’d love to see fewer pharmaceutical commercials too. Obviously they work for the companies, but the decision to take a prescription medication should be influenced more by one’s doctor than the television.
I agree 100%! I am sick to death of them. This past Christmas they had a new one on TV with a Santa and sexual type comments were made. I got tired of my kids seeing it and asking me questions about it, so much that I refused to let my kids watch the station the commercial kept appearing on.
Until pharmaceutical companies are no longer allowed to advertise on television (think hard liquor and tobacco) the option is to record children’s favorite programming (skipping these inappropriate commercials.) It won’t hurt them to see fewer of all commercials! Unfortunately the pharm industry (and lobby) is so strong, I don’t see the their commercials going away any time soon. Thank Heavens for DVR and VCR’s or what have you.
I can’t take any Viagra and the other stuff, I’ve got a bit of a problem with my ticker, but that doesn’t mean I want to give up on sex. So my pharmacist told me to try Virection and hard to believe but it actually works and I don’t worry about any side effects.
I am facing the problem Premature ejaculation, my doctor suggest me Virection . I started taking Virection everyday with the rest of my vitamins, and now everything is ready to go all the time and anytime. It boost my sexual life and increased energy level .
I agree with Stephanie. All pharmaceutical commercials should be banned! We have too many “self-diagnoses”. Doctors are the only ones qualified to determine if a prescription is necessary, that is why they go to school.