NEARLY 1,500 troops battling to stand to attention in the bedroom are being given Viagra.
Some 1,497 squaddies across the Army, RAF, Navy and Marines have had medical codes for erectile dysfunction added to their military profiles in the last four years.
And 877 were prescribed specialist medication to beat the bonk-blocking condition last year alone.
The total included 417 from the Army, 232 from the Navy and 228 from the RAF – while 230 patients were Officers.
It is the lowest prescription haul of the last four years and down by a fifth from a high point of 1,050 doctor’s notes in 2017.
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Many troops turn to Viagra if they suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – with erectile dysfunction a potential side effect of incidents during active service in warzones like Iraq and Afghanistan.
Soldiers and other servicemen do not pay for their own prescriptions while they are in the Armed Forces, with medicines funded by the Ministry of Defence.
In an online forum, one said: “It’s a pretty well-known side-effect of the stress so there’s no shame in it, and mostly if you need it the pills are kept discreet.
“It’s not the most useful but far better than the alternative.”
Military docs also handed out 7,189 antidepressant prescriptions and 3,109 orders for sleeping pills.
The total cost of obtaining the drugs is unknown – but across the pond, the US Army spends £35 million a year on blue tablets for 25,000 troops.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “Our service personnel are our most valued asset, and their health and wellbeing is of paramount importance to us.
“First and foremost, we have a range of physical and mental health and wellbeing support that is designed to ensure that all our people stay healthy and battle ready.
“Medication prescribed by the MOD are only provided where clear medical need is identified and are always in line with NHS guidelines.”