The Viagra divorce

When Viagra was introduced into the UK, it was hoped that its influence on middle-aged men's waning libido would help to save marriages.

But at least one British couple found it had the opposite effect - by leading to divorce.

A London housewife, who has not been named, cited her husband's irrepressible sexual appetite as 'unreasonable behaviour' in her divorce petition.

She said he became 'sexually aggressive' after taking the blue pill and was insatiable in the bedroom.

Although the husband, who is in his 50s, initially took Viagra because their sex life was flagging, his demands soon escalated out of control.

Solicitor Brigid Turner, of Boodle Hatfield, who dealt with the case, said: ' One

complaint was that Viagra changed his behaviour and his wife found it offensive.'

Yesterday there were fears that the case, the first of its kind in the UK, could trigger an avalanche of similar divorce petitions. With more than 500,000 users reported in Britain, there are fears that men who rediscover their libido could cheat on their partners or become too demanding between the sheets.

Viagra has already been cited in dozens of divorces in America, where more than seven million men take the prescribed pill.

Leading New York divorce lawyer Raoul Felder, who has dealt with at least 70 such cases, said: 'Older men are able to perform so they are going elsewhere. They are seeking younger, greener pastures.'

In South Africa, surgeon Christiaan Barnard, who carried out the world's first successful heart transplant, was divorced by his wife Karin when she found Viagra in the 76-year-old's toiletry bag.

She said he taunted her about wanting sexual adventures elsewhere and concluded he was having an affair.

Roy Sutherland, of Viagra manufacturers Pfizer, said: 'Any increase

in male libido is usually welcome. Where there is a disparity in the couple's libidos, they should consult a doctor.'

Jim Pollard, of the website malehealth.co.uk, said: 'Tablets aren't really the solution to any sexual health problems. The problems are usually much more deep-rooted so it is unfair to blame a drug for a divorce.

'It is much easier to blame something else rather than looking internally at the relationship.'

Since Viagra was launched on the market in 1998, a billion tablets have been sold worldwide to more than 20million men.

Dr Abraham Morgantaler, of Harvard Medical School, says in his book The Viagra Myth: ' This is definitely the Viagra Age.

'It is second in brand name recognition only to Coca-Cola. Nobody had bothered to ask, might there be a downside? People had come to expect that taking a little blue pill could solve their personal and relationship problems.'

In one case, Judith Domberley, 64, of Philadelphia, was driven to despair by husband Dwight's insatiable sexual appetite and flushed his 300 tablets down the lavatory to get 'a decent night's sleep'.

Dwight, 65, responded by starting divorce proceedings and launching a £50,000 legal action for the 'pain and suffering' caused by losing his tablets.