It’s been more than 20 years since the little blue pill changed men’s lives. Originally, sildenafil (Viagra) was developed to treat angina and hypertension, but it later proved to be effective in treating erectile dysfunction.
While Viagra is not physically addictive, it can have a psychologically addictive effect. Progressive brands like Roman and Hims are addressing this taboo subject by using thoughtful and understanding language that makes men feel comfortable discussing their health concerns.
Increased Blood Flow
Having long been known for its bragging rights in the bedroom, Viagra Malaysia (sildenafil citrate) is also touted for its heart benefits. The little blue pill has been shown to protect the heart from abnormal muscle thickening and even early-stage heart failure, according to a study published in the journal BMC Medicine. Although the results of the research involving animals are encouraging, researchers say large clinical trials need to be conducted before Viagra’s use is recommended as a daily heart medication for men.
Participants in this study highlighted several issues relating to a man’s decision to use Viagra, including the direct and indirect pressures placed on them by their partners. These pressures included the need to engage in sexual relations once a tablet had been taken, as well as the requirement that they do so for a partner’s sake. One woman who had her partner start taking Viagra for erectile dysfunction complained that this meant that she could no longer recycle her husband’s excuse for non-coital intercourse.
A couple of women reported that a change in their partners’ sexual repertoire as a result of the introduction of Viagra led to a de-emphasis on non-sexual activities and a greater emphasis on penetrative sex. This was considered unwelcome by many of the participants, and some felt that it weakened their overall relationship.
Several participants complained of sexual discomfort as a result of using Viagra, with particular problems associated with prolonged periods of penetrative sex. These include lower pelvic pain, irritation of the vaginal wall, and tearing. Even though postmenopausal women are advised to use lubricants to avoid these problems, the participants in this study indicated that they found it difficult to avoid them.
This problem may be related to how the drug works, as it acts as a PDE5 inhibitor, blocking phosphodiesterase 5, which otherwise breaks down nitric oxide and allows blood to flow more freely to the penis. However, the same action of Viagra is also helpful in reducing blood pressure in the lungs. This is a significant benefit for men who suffer from pulmonary arterial hypertension, as it means they can have a longer life expectancy than if they did not take the drug.
Lower Blood Pressure in the Lungs
Taking Viagra or Kamagra Malaysia also reduces blood pressure in the lungs, which is beneficial to men suffering from pulmonary hypertension. In addition, PDE-5 inhibitors can lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels, protect against heart attacks and strokes, and prevent the buildup of plaque in the arteries. They can also reduce the onset of diabetes, help with the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, and alleviate pain from certain cancers.
The medical establishment and pharmaceutical industry have been relatively slow to focus on the effects of Viagra on one group that it may directly impact – women in romantic relationships with men who use the drug. To date, many studies that discuss Viagra have omitted any reference to partners (see Mamo and Fishman 2001). As direct-to-consumer advertising becomes more commonplace, more studies of women’s experiences with Viagra are beginning to appear, but most still focus on the male experience alone.
In a qualitative study conducted in New Zealand in April and May 2001, interviews were carried out with 27 women whose partners used Viagra. While each woman’s stories and perspectives were highly individual, several themes emerged.
One theme was that women felt that the importance placed on Viagra as a medication catering to men’s sexual needs meant that other sexual activity was devalued or ignored. Another was the feeling that advertisements for Viagra portrayed effortless and guaranteed success, which created high expectations that could be extremely distressing when they were not met.
Some women felt that Viagra led to their partners becoming less sensitive to their needs during sex, and this was a particularly negative effect in long-term romantic relationships. Several women also reported that they felt that their partners used Viagra as a way to avoid dealing with other issues within the relationship.
Protection Against Certain Heart Problems
Whether we get our information about Viagra from Super Bowl commercials, e-mail spam, or the plethora of websites claiming to have discovered the drug, most people know that sildenafil citrate, sold under the brand name Viagra, helps genital blood vessels expand to create and sustain an erection. But what is less well known is that the little blue pill may protect the heart as well. Sildenafil’s ability to widen blood vessels also improves oxygen flow to the heart and other parts of the body. This has led some researchers to believe that it could help prevent certain heart problems and even extend life expectancy.
In a recent study, scientists found that the same molecule in Viagra that stimulates the penis to grow an erection also inhibits the buildup of fatty plaque in the arteries, helping the arteries maintain their flexibility. The results are encouraging for anyone who suffers from erectile dysfunction or other sexual impotence problems. But the research suggests that Viagra may also be helpful for men who have more serious vascular disorders that have nothing to do with sex.
For example, the same PDE-5 inhibitors used in Viagra can reduce pulmonary hypertension and Raynaud’s syndrome. And they can also improve exercise tolerance in patients with heart failure by reducing the stiffness of the heart muscle and improving blood flow to the lungs. “Large trials are now needed to establish these findings in a wider population of heart disease patients,” researcher Andrea Isidori said in a press release.
While the benefits of Viagra for the heart seem promising, some studies have raised concerns that the drug can increase the risk of stroke or myocardial infarction. These cases have been associated with sexual activity, but most researchers agree that the use of Viagra and other PDE-5 inhibitors is safe for the majority of people who take it as prescribed.
The widespread availability of Viagra and other PDE-5 inhibitors has also influenced how sexual relationships are conducted in many relationships. For example, one woman reported that her husband’s use of Viagra caused her to negotiate less openly about when sex would occur or how much time they would spend together on non-coital activities. Visit here for all about escort
Increased Life Expectancy
Historically, the medical and pharmacological disciplines have focused on developing physical treatments to address sexual difficulties experienced by men. However, recent Western societies have witnessed a shift towards greater recognition of sexual problems affecting women as well. One of the consequences of this has been a growing interest in the role that Viagra can play in helping to resolve erectile difficulties in heterosexual couples.
The use of Viagra may also raise issues for female partners. It may introduce new forms of power relations within relationships and challenge traditional ideas about what constitutes ‘healthy’ male and female sexuality.
For example, many of the women interviewed in this study spoke about various direct and indirect ‘pressures’ they felt to negotiate with their partners over when they would feel like having sex or when they might want to take a tablet. Not all women were in a position to do this openly and in an ‘equitable’ way, particularly those living in abusive relationships where it was deemed to be the wife’s responsibility to provide sexual service for her partner.
Stress also occurred when Viagra did not produce a noticeable change in a man’s ability to achieve or maintain an erection. This occurred particularly when the drug was being used to treat a man’s erectile problems due to advancing age. One 43-year-old woman felt that advertisements promoting Viagra portrayed effortless and guaranteed success which created high expectations, and that when these were not met it impacted the quality of the couple’s relationship.
Although Viagra has become a ‘brand name’ in the global market, it is not the only treatment available for erectile dysfunction, and new drugs are continuing to be developed and promoted. In New Zealand, for example, a drug called Uprima has recently been launched and is being promoted as working faster and with less serious side effects than Viagra.
These changes mean that more attention must be paid to how medicines are coded with social and cultural meanings and to how they influence people’s interactions with them, as well as how these relate to wider sociocultural understandings of’male’ and ‘female’ sexuality. This will include ensuring that women’s perspectives and concerns are included in discussions about a man’s use of Viagra.
