Go Ad-Free
logoThe People's Perspective on Medicine

Sexy Guy Doesn’t Need Viagra

Q. My boy friend does not suffer from impotence, far from it. But he is taking Viagra. He says it helps him achieve better erections and last longer. I think it’s ridiculous, but he jokes about it and says a lot of his buddies are also taking Viagra to improve their performance. Does Viagra really help erections for normal guys or is this all in his head?

A. Rumor has it that Viagra improves erections in normal men, but the evidence to support this claim has been somewhat controversial. A study in the journal BJU International (June 28, 2010) suggests that drugs like Viagra, Cialis and Levitra do indeed improve penile rigidity even in men without erectile dysfunction (ED).
Another study in the same journal (published online Sept. 7, 2010) demonstrated that Levitra could delay orgasm in men who suffer from premature ejaculation. The benefit was not great, however. The median delay went from 48.5 seconds to 82.5 seconds. Enough to be statistically significant, but not much to write home about.
All these ED drugs are expensive and may have side effects for some men including headache, flushing, dizziness, stuffy nose or upset stomach. Anyone who experiences visual disturbances should cease taking the drug and discuss this with a physician!
Your boy friend is probably wasting his money on a drug he doesn’t need. If he suffers from premature ejaculation (and you would be the best judge of that) he could benefit from behavioral techniques to delay things. Some research on this topic should reveal the best methods to delay ejaculation without drugs.

Rate this article
star-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-empty
5- 1 rating
About the Author
Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist who has dedicated his career to making drug information understandable to consumers. His best-selling book, The People’s Pharmacy, was published in 1976 and led to a syndicated newspaper column, syndicated public radio show and web site. In 2006, Long Island University awarded him an honorary doctorate as “one of the country's leading drug experts for the consumer.”.
Tired of the ads on our website?

Now you can browse our website completely ad-free for just $5 / month. Stay up to date on breaking health news and support our work without the distraction of advertisements.

Browse our website ad-free
Join over 150,000 Subscribers at The People's Pharmacy

We're empowering you to make wise decisions about your own health, by providing you with essential health information about both medical and alternative treatment options.