--- description: A Kentucky lawmaker introduced a bill on Thursday requiring men to have a note from their wives before getting erectile dysfunction drugs title: Want Viagra? Get a Note From Your Wife, Kentucky Lawmaker Says image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7c132b76e2a5ae11/6987789935ba6f1bc6c0659f/health-pills-prescription-4.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [U.S.](/section/us/) ## U.S. Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [States](/tag/states/) ## States Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Want Viagra? Get a Note From Your Wife, Kentucky Lawmaker Says  by [Katie Reilly](/author/katie-reilly/)  ## Katie Reilly Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Feb 15, 2016 1:55 PM CUT  Elizabeth Renstrom for TIME  by [Katie Reilly](/author/katie-reilly/)  ## Katie Reilly Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Feb 15, 2016 1:55 PM CUT In a bid apparently meant to turn the tables on male lawmakers for interfering in women’s health decisions, a Kentucky state representative [introduced a bill last week](http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2016/02/12/want-viagra-not-without-note-wife/80294772/ "undefined") requiring men to have a note from their wives before getting a prescription for erectile dysfunction drugs. Mary Lou Marzian, a Louisville Democrat, told [the Louisville _Courier-Journal_](http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2016/02/12/want-viagra-not-without-note-wife/80294772/ "undefined") that she wants to make sure men are aware of potentially dangerous side effects of the drugs, such as Viagra. The bill also requires men to visit a doctor twice and mandates that only married men can obtain the drug. “I want to protect these men from themselves,” she said. “This is about family values.” But Marzian also said [the bill](http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/16RS/HB396.htm "undefined") is a response to Kentucky’s anti-abortion legislation, including a law enacted last week that requires a woman to get counseling in person or through live telecommunications 24 hours before an abortion. Marzian said she also plans to introduce a bill requiring gun-buyers to get counseling from victims of gun violence 24 hours before the purchase. \[[_Louisville Courier-Journal_](http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2016/02/12/want-viagra-not-without-note-wife/80294772/ "undefined")\] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4224694/kentucky-bill-erectile-dysfunction-prescription/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4224694/kentucky-bill-erectile-dysfunction-prescription/"},"headline":"Want Viagra? 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