What is erectile dysfunction (ED)?
Erectile dysfunction (ED) refers to the inability to get and keep an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse. Estimates suggest that one of every 10 men will suffer from ED at some point during his lifetime. It is important to understand that in most cases, ED is a symptom of another, underlying problem. ED is not considered normal at any age and may be associated with other problems that interfere with sexual intercourse, such as lack of desire and problems with orgasm and ejaculation.
Approximately one in 10 adult males will suffer from ED on a long-term basis. Many men do experience occasional failure to achieve an erection, which can occur for a variety of reasons, such as drinking too much alcohol, stress, relationship problems, or being extremely tired.
The failure to get an erection less than 20% of the time is not unusual and typically does not require treatment. However, the failure to achieve an erection more than 50% of the time generally means that there is a problem and treatment is needed.
ED does not have to be a part of getting older. While it is true that some older men may need more stimulation, they should still be able to achieve an erection and enjoy intercourse.
How erectile dysfunction affects relationships and marriage
Studies indicate that erectile dysfunction has a significant association with family dysfunction and partner sexual satisfaction. According to a study published in the Iranian Journal Of Psychiatry And Behavioral Science, marital satisfaction is closely linked with sexual satisfaction. So with the increase in sexual satisfaction, there was an increase in marital satisfaction accordingly.
A poor sexual synergy in marriage may be grounds for divorce for some people, depending on how important sex is to them and how much work has been put into solving the issue as a couple. Some couples rarely or never have sex, and both people are totally fine with that. There is no “normal” or “healthy” level of sexual desire or activity, so if it’s working for both people, there’s nothing to change or worry about. In a relationship where at least one person is unhappy with the lack of good sex, there are many steps you can take to address poor sex within the marriage. Making your relationship intimate and special is the responsibility of both partners.
What is Viagra?
Viagra is a brand of sildenafil, a prescription drug used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. Viagra can’t cure ED or increase sexual desire. Instead, it relaxes muscles and increases blood flow to cause an erection.
Manufactured by Pfizer, Viagra is a brand name for the generic medication sildenafil citrate. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Viagra to treat sexual impotence. Sildenafil may also treat pulmonary arterial hypertension. Viagra is a vasodilator that is only available by prescription.
How does Viagra work?
Viagra works by relaxing muscles in blood vessel walls to help increase blood flow to the penis, making it easier to get and maintain an erection. Viagra is only effective if there is sexual stimulation, such as that occurring during sexual intercourse. When stimulation first happens, Viagra helps increase blood flow to the penis and then works to help maintain an erection.
According to the Boston University School of Sexual Medicine, erectile dysfunction affects up to 52% of men between the ages of 40-70, many of whom turn to erectile dysfunction medications to help with their symptoms. Viagra is a type of erectile dysfunction drug called a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor. PDE5 inhibitors keep a particular enzyme called phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE5) from acting too quickly. If PDE5 acts slower, then a substance that’s responsible for relaxing muscles and widening blood vessels can do its job.
What to expect when your husband takes Viagra
When your husband takes Viagra, the medication quickly enters his system and starts working after about an hour, but it can be taken anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours before sexual activity.
When your husband takes Viagra expect to be filled with something that creates an immense sense of pleasure, tingling, and a general good feeling. It doesn’t really matter the shape or size, but the sensation of a stronger erection triggered by increased blood flow by Viagra provides for greater satisfaction, allowing some women to also get indirect clitoral stimulation through vaginal stimulation.
The effects of Viagra can last 4 to 8 hours, depending on the individual person and the dose he takes. In fact, some people may experience more than one erection during this time. However, just because Viagra can stay in the body for up to 8 hours doesn’t mean his erection should last that long.
In fact, if your husband’s erection lasts longer than 4 hours even if it’s not painful, seek medical help right away. An erection lasting longer than 4 hours is known as priapism, a condition that can cause permanent damage to the tissue that helps you become erect.
Viagra will not be as effective for people with certain conditions. Your husband may not get the full benefits of Viagra if he is sick, fatigued, or intoxicated. Alcohol can worsen the side effects of viagra and potentially make erectile dysfunction worse. He should take Viagra on an empty stomach about one hour before sex.
What happens if a woman takes Viagra?
It’s not known exactly what may happen if a female takes Viagra. Currently, there are mixed reviews about the effects of the drug in females. For example, one study showed that Viagra increased arousal, lubrication, and orgasm in females. But another study showed that Viagra didn’t cause these outcomes.
So currently, there’s not enough information to know for sure if Viagra is safe or effective in females. If you’d like to know more about how Viagra affects females, talk with your doctor.
What are the side effects of Viagra?
Side effects of Viagra include:
- changes in color vision (seeing a blue tinge on objects or having difficulty telling the difference between blue and green)
- diarrhea
- difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
- flushing (feeling of warmth)
- headache
- heartburn
- muscle aches
- nosebleeds
- numbness, burning or tingling in the arms, hands, feet, or legs
- sensitivity to light
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
- blurred vision
- chest pain
- dizziness or lightheadedness
- erection that is painful or lasts longer than 4 hours
- fainting
- itching or burning during urination
- rash
- ringing in ears
- sudden decrease or loss of hearing
- sudden severe loss of vision (see below for more information)
- worsening shortness of breath
Some patients experienced a sudden loss of some or all of their vision after they took Viagra or other medications that are similar to sildenafil. The vision loss was permanent in some cases. It is not known if the vision loss was caused by the medication. If you experience a sudden loss of vision while you are taking sildenafil, call your doctor immediately. Do not take any more doses of sildenafil or similar medications such as tadalafil (Cialis) or vardenafil (Levitra) until you talk to your doctor.
There have been reports of heart attack, stroke, irregular heartbeat, bleeding in the brain or lungs, high blood pressure, and sudden death in men who took sildenafil for erectile dysfunction. Most, but not all, of these people had heart problems before taking sildenafil. It is not known whether these events were caused by sildenafil, sexual activity, heart disease, or a combination of these and other causes. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking sildenafil.
Some patients experienced a sudden decrease or loss of hearing after they took Viagra or other medications that are similar to sildenafil. The hearing loss usually involved only one ear and did not always improve when the medication was stopped. It is not known if the hearing loss was caused by the medication. If you experience a sudden loss of hearing, sometimes with ringing in the ears or dizziness, while you are taking sildenafil, call your doctor immediately. If you are taking sildenafil (Viagra) for erectile dysfunction, do not take any more doses of sildenafil (Viagra) or similar medications such as tadalafil (Cialis) or vardenafil (Levitra) until you talk to your doctor. If you are taking sildenafil (Revatio) for PAH, do not stop taking your medication until you talk to your doctor.
Sildenafil may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while you are taking this medication.
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program by phone (1-800-332-1088).
