Recreational Erection Pills: A Danger to Men’s Sexual Health

Sex is a vital part of adult men and women’s lives. Aside from its reproductive purposes, sex can offer physical, emotional, psychological and social health benefits. For many men, sexual performance becomes an important part of the sexual experience as they strive to please their partner and achieve stronger and longer erections.

To accomplish peak sexual performance, many men take erectile pills known as phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors—you know them as Viagra^®, Cialis^® and Levitra^®—even though they do not suffer from erectile dysfunction (ED), which are these drugs' intended use. In fact, according to a study published in the International Journal of Impotence Research, sildenafil (Viagra^®) usage among 18-45 year old men is the largest growing Viagra^® market, with a 312% increase in usage from 1998 to 2002 alone, and the numbers of men seeking out male enhancement products are continuing to increase. Alarmingly, many younger men gain access to Viagra^® and its counterparts without a prescription, purchasing the little blue pill from black market sources or through online pharmacies which do not adequately assess the health needs of their digital customers.

Using these drugs without medical need can cause damage to your health and actually become detrimental to your sexual performance with their continued use.

The Health Risks of Recreational Erection Pill Use

For men without erectile dysfunction who take Viagra^®, Cialis^® or Levitra^®, serious health complications may manifest. Psychological dependence can occur in which men become fearful that, without the ED drugs, they will not achieve the same quality of erection, and will actually experience performance anxiety unless they take the medication.

Consequently, men who habitually take phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors can actually develop erectile dysfunction in which they are no longer able to achieve a healthy erection for a sustained timeframe, even with the ED drugs. Other risks include:

• Fatally mixing erectile dysfunction medication with illegal drugs such as methamphetamines, cocaine and ecstasy.
• Cardiovascular complications, especially if you have blood pressure issues, congestive heart failure or coronary artery disease, or take nitrate medication for check pain. Nitrates taken with phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors could cause hypotension, further cardiac complications and even death.
• Experiencing the side effects of phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors including headaches, body aches, digestive issues like diarrhea and indigestion, dizziness, blurred vision, nasal congestion and flushing.

Your Safe Options for Sexual Performance Enhancement

If you want to enhance your sexual performance but do not want the associated risks of taking an erection pill to boost libido, you are not without options. From dietary improvements to Kegel exercises, a healthcare provider can help you to naturally enhance your sexual health without the need of medication.

Likewise, a healthcare provider can discuss with you the option of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) for performance improvement. Shock wave therapy is an innovative, non-invasive procedure with utilizes acoustic pulsed waves to stimulate blood flow and new blood vessel growth to the penis for men with and without ED. For men with ED, it can help restore erectile function for up to 2 years. If you are solely seeking male enhancement, shock wave therapy can help you achieve stronger, longer erections and may even enhance the size of your penis. ESWT can eliminate your dependency on the little blue pill, requires no surgery or downtime and has little to no known side effects.

Have your best sex ever! Schedule a consultation with a healthcare practitioner in Tarpon Springs that specializes in male enhancement therapies. Call (813) 536-3212 or contact Erin Bolton online.

References

Delate, T., V. A. Simmons, and B. R. Motheral. "Patterns of use of sildenafil among commercially insured adults in the United States: 1998–2002." International Journal of Impotence Research 16, no. 4 (February 19, 2004): 313-18. Accessed February 2, 2017. doi:10.1038/sj.ijir.3901191.

Harte, CB & Meston, CM (2011). Recreational use of erectile dysfunction medications in undergraduate men in the United States: Characteristics and associated risk factors. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 40, 597-606.