Viagra does not cause erections on its own; it only works when you are sexually stimulated. It prevents the chemicals that create erections from leaving the penis.
The drug’s active ingredient, sildenafil, has also been shown to shorten your refractory period in some studies. In other words, it makes it easier to get an erection.
Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is a condition that makes it difficult to get or keep an erection. It affects as many as 30 million men in the US. In addition to physical problems, it can cause emotional distress and embarrassment for sufferers. Viagra is a prescription drug that helps men with this condition. It contains the active ingredient sildenafil and belongs to a group of drugs called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors. These drugs improve blood flow to the penis during sexual activity. They also increase the length of time an erection lasts. However, they only work if the person is sexually aroused.
It’s important to understand what Viagra does and doesn’t do. For example, the little blue pill doesn’t boost sex drive or make you hornier. It also doesn’t help you last longer in bed if you lose your erection before sexual intercourse begins or you orgasm too quickly. Instead, you should take a medication like l-arginine or yohimbine to help prevent premature ejaculation.
You should only take Viagra if your doctor approves it. This drug is not safe for people with certain medical conditions, including heart problems or a history of stroke. It can cause side effects, such as a headache, stomach pain, dizziness or flushing. It may interact with nitrate drugs, including nitroglycerin (used to treat angina) and illicit drugs called poppers.
Ejaculation
Men usually have a refractory period, or recovery time, after they ejaculate during which they cannot achieve another erection. Viagra helps reduce this refractory time and can help a man achieve an erection more quickly. It also may help a man maintain an erection for longer than he could before taking the medication.
Ejaculation is a necessary part of sexual reproduction and happens when muscles in the penis contract during orgasm and push semen containing sperm out of the body through the urethra. The semen is mixed with whitish fluids that nourish and support the sperm, which makes it possible for them to survive after they are expelled from the body. The whitish fluid is called precum and is produced by glands at the tip of the penis known as Cowper’s glands.
The number of sperm released varies and depends on the length of sexual stimulation before ejaculation, age and testosterone levels. A low sperm count is called oligospermia and no sperm in ejaculate is called anejaculation.
The effectiveness of Viagra lasts about four hours after it is taken, although it has a shorter window of effect in some people. It can be taken with or without food, but alcohol interferes with its effect by constricting blood flow. To help increase the amount of time an erection lasts, men can try exercising their pelvic floor muscles and squeezing the end of their penis at the point where it joins the shaft (glans). This technique can also be helpful in preventing premature ejaculation.
Sedation
Viagra increases blood flow into your penis, which helps you have and maintain an erection. However, the drug does not make your penis bigger. Instead, it reduces a span of time called the refractory period that occurs after orgasm and ejaculation. This period can last a few minutes, several hours or even an entire day.
In clinical trials, men with erectile dysfunction who took Viagra had an increased ability to remain hard and had sex that was satisfying. It works best when you are sexually aroused, which can be accomplished by having sex, looking at images of naked bodies or engaging in foreplay.
If you have a history of heart problems, high blood pressure or a family history of the disease, talk with your doctor before taking Viagra. It’s also not safe to take it with certain medications, such as nitrates for chest pain or blood thinners. Taking the medication with these drugs can increase your risk of having a serious, long-lasting erection (priapism).
You should also avoid drinking grapefruit juice while you are taking Viagra. It can affect the amount of the medication that enters your body. If you have a liver problem, your doctor may prescribe a lower dosage of the drug for you. The medication is available as tablets that you can take by mouth, or as liquid that is taken orally.
Side Effects
Men who use viagra often experience mild to moderate side effects, such as headaches, flushing and sensitivity to light. Usually, these side effects go away on their own within a few days or a couple of weeks. If they persist, talk to your doctor. Some side effects, such as headaches, can be relieved with a dose of acetaminophen or another pain reliever that’s safe for you.
If you have a heart problem or stroke, it’s not safe to take Viagra. It can increase blood flow to your penis, which can put a strain on your heart. Viagra also may interact with some drugs that treat heart conditions, including nitrates (such as nitroglycerin, used to treat angina) and illicit drugs called poppers.
In some cases, Viagra may cause priapism, a painful long-lasting erection that won’t go away. It’s also not safe to use with some physical anomalies of the penis, such as bending or scarring. Viagra should also be avoided if you have a condition such as Peyronie’s disease, which causes a permanent erection.
In addition, Viagra won’t help you stay hard longer after orgasm if you’ve already lost your erection. However, other medications and techniques can help you last longer in bed after orgasm. The FDA tracks reports of side effects from people taking Viagra and other erectile dysfunction medicines. You can report any side effects to the FDA through its MedWatch website.
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