Impotence industry probe raises concerns

Australia's urologists have welcomed the findings of a parliamentary probe into the impotence industry, saying it had echoed their serious concerns.

The industry known for using billboard advertisements to reach men with erection problems should cease its practice of prescribing treatments over the phone, the parliamentary committee found.

Dr David Malouf, president of the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand (USANZ), said the probe had also rightly raised concerns over men who felt unable to exit their treatment contracts.

"We share the committee's concern over examples of financial hardship endured by patients locked in contractual agreements ... who were unable to get their money back when the treatments didn't work," Dr Malouf said in a statement.

"... or they were told they faced significant health risks including death if they failed to undertake treatment."

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health and Ageing Roundtable Forum on Impotence Medications tabled its report in the federal parliament late on Monday.

It recommended that men with erection problems should turn to their GP instead of the clinics, because the condition was often a sign of illness like diabetes or cardiovascular disease that could otherwise go undetected.

It found men were often unaware the treatments did not have to undergo clinical trials, and their mass sale was "not in keeping" with regulations.

The report also said "prescribing medication to a previously unknown patient based on a relatively short telemedicine conference as a first and routine option should, in the committee's opinion, cease".

"As the committee has highlighted, consumers should be aware that the therapies being offered as first-line treatments by these clinics fly in the face of recommended treatments for erectile dysfunction," Dr Malouf said.

He said erection problems affected about 40 per cent of men over the age of 40, and these people were "vulnerable to exploitation".

They should see their GP to access a recognised treatment like Viagra, Levitra or Cialis.

"There is strong evidence that these agents are safer, cheaper and more effective than the therapies being prescribed by entrepreneurial clinics," Dr Malouf said.

Comment was sought from Advanced Medical Institute, a major player in the impotence treatment industry, but it was not immediately available.