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If you watched the movie “Love and Other Drugs” by Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal, chances are, you’ve heard about the medication Viagra.
But if you’re one of at least 12 million American men who have erectile dysfunction, you probably want to get your hands on this revolutionary drug that promises to give you better and longer erections to improve your sexual performance.
Erectile dysfunction is a sexual condition more prevalent in older men. But recent studies suggest that some doctors are now getting visits from younger and healthy men complaining of difficulties in getting and maintaining an erection (1).
Fortunately, drugs like Viagra, along with a lot of other treatment options, are already available to address erectile dysfunction. But like the movie, the common question among men is: does Viagra make you horny?
What Is Viagra?
Viagra is the brand name for the drug Sildenafil, a phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE5) inhibitor that works by increasing blood flow to your penis. This allows you to sustain an erection and achieve satisfactory sexual performance. Viagra has been proven effective in erectile dysfunction of diverse origin, although it requires a patent vascular system to be effective (2).
Does Viagra Make You Horny?
Although Viagra is a powerful drug that has been proven to help patients get and maintain an erection, no studies have proven that it affects sexual desire or libido. Here’s why:
- Viagra has been proven to promote better blood flow to the penis, but arousal and libido are still dependent on your central nervous system. Considered the most valuable sex organ, your brain will dictate your mood for a sexual encounter or not, and it ultimately affects your ability to get an erection.
- Arousal begins when your brain sends signals of arousal into the penis where nitric oxide (NO) is then released to activate guanylate cyclase.
The enzyme causes an increased level of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) that result in muscle relaxation. The blood vessels in the corpora cavernosa also relax and widen to promote better blood flow to the penis, which results in an erection.
Viagra works by inhibiting PDE5, which dampens the effect of cGMP to make sure that muscle relaxation lasts long enough to maintain an erection for up to 4 hours.
- Viagra may help with erection, but you need stimulation to increase your libido and enjoy a sexual encounter. Take Viagra at least an hour before your planned sexual intercourse ad the effects of the drug can last for about 4 hours.
But if you get an erection longer than that, you might be experiencing priapism, a condition where persistent penile erection continues for hours or if a patient gets an erection without any sexual stimulation (3). This condition demands prompt evaluation and emergency management.
What Lifestyle Changes Can Help With Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction has been related to both physical and psychological factors.
So aside from relying on Viagra, it’s also essential to follow some lifestyle changes that will improve blood circulation to all parts of your body and keep you from conditions that can lead to erectile dysfunction:
- Stay more active. If you’re not a fan of the gym, you can do activities like walking your dog in the morning or mowing the lawn just to break some sweat. Exercise is still one of the best ways to promote better blood flow throughout the body, and it also gives you the energy you need to last long during a sexual encounter.
- Manage your weight. Obesity is associated with erectile dysfunction, so managing obesity is an essential approach in treating the condition (4). Aside from exercise, you should also eat healthy by avoiding too much fat and sugar and consuming more fruits and vegetables.
- Reduce stress. You cannot avoid stress, but you can always control how you react to it. Instead of focusing too much on stressful situations, find ways to release your feelings by meditating, talking to someone, or just treating yourself to a nice long bath.
Does Viagra make you horny? Unfortunately not. At the end of the day, whether or not you like to have sex will all depend on your brain.
