Chemistries of Love. Impotence, erectile dysfunction and Viagra in Läkartidningen

• This article examines the discourse surrounding impotence, erectile dysfunction and Viagra in the Swedish medical journal Läkartidningen. It draws on articles published from 1990 to 2006, the eight years prior to and after Viagra’s 1998 introduction. Close reading of the articles has shown changes over this time period in how the impotent patient is defined. It has also revealed a transition in the discourse from the term impotence to erectile dysfunction. In these articles the role of the (female) partner in finding a solution to impotence and the social aspects of impotence also change dramatically once Viagra is available. Results from this study are contextualized against similar research that has examined the medical discourse around erectile dysfunction in the international arena.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Annan samhällsvetenskap -- Genusstudier (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Other Social Sciences -- Gender Studies (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Annan samhällsvetenskap -- Övrig annan samhällsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Other Social Sciences -- Other Social Sciences not elsewhere specified (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Hälso- och sjukvårdsorganisation, hälsopolitik och hälsoekonomi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Health Care Service and Management, Health Policy and Services and Health Economy (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Annan samhällsvetenskap -- Tvärvetenskapliga studier inom samhällsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Other Social Sciences -- Social Sciences Interdisciplinary (hsv//eng)

Keyword

impotence

erectile dysfunction

Läkartidningen

Viagra

medicalization

Impotence

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)