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.
