Viagra gives a new surge to oldest profession

By Brendan Riley, Associated Press writer

Business has been real good for Joe Richards since spring and he credits Viagra. He's no pharmacist, either -- he owns two brothels in Carson City, Nev.

Richards figures the wildly popular impotence pill has increased activity at the Cherry Patch and Mabel's by some 10 percent.

"We have a lot of guys who used to come up here but stopped, and now they're back. The girls say they're on the pill," said Richards. "We're talking older fellows, in their 60s or older."

For all the talk about Viagra, its effectiveness boils down to what goes on behind closed doors. Until now, no one's heard from those in the world's oldest profession, and some are certainly happy with the new medicine.

"I wish we could sell Viagra," Richards said. "If we could advertise it and have it on the premises, we'd be in good shape."

Made by Pfizer Inc., Viagra is the first pill to treat male impotence. The company said there have been 1.7 million new prescriptions for the drug since March -- 80 percent of them for men over 50.

Doctors have warned patients not to combine Viagra with nitrates, some of which are found in heart medications. And deaths among men who took Viagra have climbed to 16, including seven who died during or after sex.

The FDA said there is no evidence that Viagra is to blame for the deaths of the men, most of whom were in their 60s and 70s.

Not that the deaths have scared off Viagra-packing visitors in Nevada, where prostitution is illegal in Reno and Las Vegas but allowed in some counties. There are some 30 brothels.

Dennis Hof, owner of the Moonlight Bunnyranch and Miss Kitty's Fantasy Ranch east of Carson City, said business at the brothels has increased by at least 20 percent since March. Bunnyranch manager Suzette Gwin said Viagra is the reason -- her customers say it's so.

"There have been some guys in here who look about 80," Ms. Gwin said. "They come in with their canes. But the girls don't care if their customers are 18 or 100 years old."

Not everyone buys the good news.

George Flint, head of the Nevada Brothel Owner's Association, thinks the claim of a Viagra impact is all hype.

"By the time you spend $10 for one pill, you can't afford to go to the ranch," said Flint, who also speaks for the fabled Mustang Ranch, east of Reno.

"I discussed this with the manager at Mustang and she laughed and said there's absolutely no impact," Flint said. "Oh, sure, probably eight or 10 people have taken this opportunity, but you have to realize there are half a million clients who come into Nevada brothels every year."

In fact, Flint said the effect of Viagra on Nevada's brothel business probably amounts to less than 1 percent: "There's no parade of old codgers coming in."