You’re sitting at home. Maybe you’re relaxing after a long day at work. Maybe you’re just relaxing after a hard day of studying. Either way, you’re probably feeling pretty relaxed. You open up your email and see a bunch of messages waiting for you. Maybe you even start to feel a little bit of tension in your erectile dysfunction (ED) treatment group. You scroll down and see an email from one of your buddies. It seems like he’s having some trouble with his penis.
“Does Viagra make your penis longer?” he asks. You immediately lock eyes with his. You’ve seen this guy around school a couple of times. He’s often the funny guy in the crowd, but he was also the one who made you chuckle when you saw him around campus. You’re pretty sure he’s another beta-blocker (and maybe even a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)) fan. Fortunately, your tension goes away and you can continue your relaxing time. You quickly respond, “No. Viagra does not make your penis longer. It only relieves ED symptoms.” What would you have said if the email was about premature ejaculation (PE)?
Viagra Doesn’t Cure All Illness
To hear some people tell it, Viagra is a magic pill that can solve all of your sexual problems. They’ll go on about how the drug helped their particular friend who had erectile dysfunction (ED). They might even tell you a little bit about the magic of Viagra and your penis. While it’s true that Viagra can be an effective remedy for some kinds of erectile dysfunction (ED), it doesn’t cure all illness.
Just because a drug can treat a particular problem in some cases, it doesn’t mean that it will solve that problem for every individual who takes it. ED is a very common problem. Many people will try anything to solve their sexual dysfunction issues. Some of them will even try multiple prescriptions and illicit drugs. That’s a habit that can have serious side effects. While Viagra might not be the most effective solution for your erotic problems, it’s definitely a step in the right direction. Even if it’s just a slight step.
Viagra Is Effective But Only For Certain Conditions
Even if Viagra doesn’t cure all illness and dysfunction, it’s still a highly effective drug. According to a 2011 review published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, the drug can help men with erectile dysfunction (ED) have successful intercourse. It might even help them reach an orgasm as well. There are specific conditions under which Viagra can be an effective treatment for ED. The review paper listed the following requirements:
- The man must have tried to have sexual intercourse at least once within the last four weeks.
- The man must have an erectile problem, which is sometimes defined as the inability to achieve or maintain an erection that is sufficient for successful sexual intercourse.
- The man must not have taken a drug that interferes with the functioning of his penis during that time frame.
- The man must not have a history of cardiovascular disease, alcoholism, or diabetes.
If you meet all the requirements above, your doctor might suggest that you try one or more of the following treatments:
- Vitamin E and C supplements
- Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5 inhibitors, such as sildenafil citrate)
- Alpha-adrenergic blockers (e.g., phentolamine)
- Intracavernosal injection therapy (ICI therapy)
- Intravenous (IV) vitamin E injection therapy (VEI therapy)
Keep in mind that none of these treatments are approved by the FDA for use in treating erectile dysfunction (ED). They’re all used to treat different conditions. The review paper also cited a 2004 meta-analysis that found that the drug was equally effective in treating both mild and severe forms of ED. In some cases, men who took Viagra had an improvement in their health conditions as a direct result of the treatment. Some patients even noticed improvements in heart health as well.
Dangers Of Taking Viagra
Even though Viagra doesn’t cause your penis to become longer, it’s still associated with several significant risks. You need to understand these risks before you take the drug. These are the same dangers that are listed on the drug’s FDA-approved label:
- Sudden cardiac arrest
- Allergic reaction
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Accidental overdose
- Sleeplessness
- Blurred vision
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Muscle cramping
- Sinusitis
Obviously, you must be careful around the drug. You must not take it if you’re already experiencing any of these side effects. You should also not take it if you’re taking any other medication or herb without consulting your doctor. One of the most common side effects is dizziness. It can be dangerous to drive or perform any tasks that require physical exertion while taking the drug. There have also been cases where men taking Viagra have had negative side effects from the treatment. Those who took higher doses than recommended or who had pre-existing conditions experienced cardiac arrest and heart attack. Fortunately, these side effects are relatively rare. They’re more common in people with pre-existing cardiac disease. In these cases, the outcome is usually positive.
The above information should have answered your question about whether Viagra makes you longer. It’s a safe treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED) and can help men with all sorts of issues have successful intercourse. It doesn’t cure all illness or dysfunction, but it can improve certain health conditions for some men. The risks of taking the drug are significant, so it’s not something to simply pop in your mouth. Make sure you consult your doctor about whether or not it’s the right treatment for you.