State lawmaker introduces PDE-5 inhibitor legislation 'to protect men'

Ohio state Senator Nina Turner (D-Cleveland) recently announced legislation that she says would protect men in Ohio from the risks of phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors used to treat erectile dysfunction.

The legislation would include provisions to document that the symptoms are not psychological in nature, Turner said in a statement. Physicians would be required to obtain a second opinion from a psychological professional to verify that a patient has a true medical malady before the medication could be prescribed.

"The men in our lives, including members of the General Assembly, generously devote time to fundamental female reproductive issues-the least we can do is return the favor," Turner said in a press release. "It is crucial that we take the appropriate steps to shelter vulnerable men from the potential side effects of these drugs."

Observers say the bill is a direct response to legislation regulating women’s reproductive health, including several statewide anti-abortion bills. In local media reports, Turner has expressed her opposition to late-term abortion bans, saying it violates a woman’s right to control her body, especially if she is impregnated following rape.

Other recent bills similar to the Turner legislation include an amendment to a Virginia ultrasound bill that would require men seeking a PDE-5 inhibitor to first undergo a rectal exam, and an Illinois amendment that would require seekers of such a drug to watch a graphic video depicting its potential side effects.

"By implementing more intensive screenings before prescribing the medication and requiring outpatient educational services, we can do more to prevent the potential side effects linked to PDE-5 inhibitors," Turner said. "We must advocate for the traditional family, protect the sanctity of procreation, and ensure that all men using PDE-5 inhibitors are healthy, stable, and educated about their options-including celibacy as a viable life choice. This legislation will do just that."

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