An important piece of legislation was introduced in the Ohio State Senate yesterday. It seems that in all the fuss to protect women from making poor decisions about their bodies, we forgot about the men. But Senator Nina Turner didn’t forget.

Turner has introduced a bill that would make sure that men, seeking prescriptions to potentially dangerous therapies to treat male sexual disorders, receive the same type of information and options as women confronting difficult decisions about their reproductive health.

From Turner’s press release:

“When a man makes a crucial decision about his health and his body, he should be fully aware of the alternative options and the lifetime repercussions of that decision,” Senator Turner said today. Men will be more easily guided through the process of obtaining treatment for impotence so they can better understand and more effectively address their condition.

Senate Bill 307 protects men by requiring the following prior to receiving a prescription to treatment for erectile dysfunction:

a signed affadavit from at least one sex partner confirming the man has indeed experienced the symptoms of impotence in the past 90 days

a psychological screening to ensure the condition is, in fact, medical in nature

ongoing cardiac stress tests and outpatient counseling about potential side effects

information from the prescribing physician about risks, complications as well as non-medical options including counseling and celibacy

copy of medical rationale for treatment filed in patient’s medical record

And, with that summary, I give you what may be the greatest co-sponsor request ever to appear on Ohio State Senate letterhead:

TO: All Senate Members

FROM: Senator Nina Turner

DATE: March 2, 2012

RE: Co-Sponsor Request I will be introducing a bill to address an issue that has gone unaddressed for far too long. The diligence with which men in state legislatures across the nation have considered the fragile health and feeble minds of women has prompted me to reflect on the welfare of the more powerful breed: men. This legislation will take strong steps to protect men from the harmful effects of PDE-5 inhibitors (phosphodiesterase type 5). PDE-5 inhibitors are prescribed to men who are experiencing symptoms of male impotence and carry serious side effects such as priapism, hearing loss, and vision loss. Such medications should be considered with the utmost concern and caution. These medications can be seriously detrimental to men with heart problems, including heart pain (angina), heart failure, abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias), high or low blood pressure, a history of stroke within the last six months, eye problems such as retinitis pigmentosa, sickle cell anemia, or leukemia. The legislation will implement procedures that will ensure the vigorous reproductive health of men who experience non-psychological erectile dysfunction symptoms. This means that men will have to certify their impotence, confirm their comprehension of risk, and undergo outpatient counseling services to inform them of alternative treatment options to PDE-5 inhibitors. Please join us in this fight to protect those who are our greatest protectors. The men in our lives generously devote time and debate to fundamental female reproductive issues; the least we can do is return the favor. If you would like to be included as a co-sponsor, please contact Matthew Adair at [redacted]. The deadline to sign on to this legislation is 5:00pm on Monday, March 5, 2012. Thank you for your consideration.

If you are a voter in Ohio and believe, like we do, that men’s sexual health should not be overlooked, contact your State Senator and urge them to support SB307 .

Our colleague, Greg, tells us this is how he envisions his conversation with Senator Turner about the bill would probably go: