Out Of The Blue

Viagra was created to help those with erectile dysfunction. An inability to achieve an erection or sustain one. A truly distressing problem for a man. There are no accurate figures out there due to the sensitive nature of the problem to calculate just how many men suffer from this. It is believed that around 5% of 40 year old men and 25% of 65 year olds have this condition.

In brief. An erection occurs when the two chambers of spongy tissue, the corpora cavernosa and are relaxed allowing the blood to flow in and fill the spaces in the tissue. Creating pressure which makes the penis expand and harden.

The blood is trapped there by a membrane called the tunica albuginea which helps to sustain the erection. An erection isn’t maintained when the muscles contract to stop the blood flowing in to the penis and the outflow channels are opened.

The most common cause of erectile dysfunction is tissue damage to the nerves, arteries, muscles or fibrous tissue.
This can be due to disease or conditions like diabetes, kidney disease, chronic alcoholism, MS and cardiovascular disease. Which make up 70% of the cases reported.

It can also be a side effect of taking medications such as blood pressure drugs, antihistamines, antidepressants and tranquillisers. So you can see why so many people are eager to obtain this little blue pill.

However experts believe that up to 20% of cases arise from stress, anxiety, guilt, low self-esteem and fear of sexual failure. Smoking has also been associated with the problem as it affects the blood flow.

Psychotherapy can help certain individuals and there are alternative methods which others can turn to.
One of those is the vacuum device, which can be used to encourage erections. They work on the principal that placing the penis within a vacuum will draw the blood in to it. Usually they consist of a plastic cylinder in which the penis is placed. A pump is then used to extract the air around the penis. Once an erection is achieved an elastic band is placed at the base of the penis to help maintain the erection.

Other methods include, penile injection which was more common before the advent of Viagra in 1999 and surgery to introduce implanted devices to aid erection, including bladders which can be inflated with pressurised fluid.

What prompted me to write this post was the advent of over the counter sales of Viagra at Boots chemists in the UK on Valentines Day of all days. Now men between the age of 30 and 65 will be able to buy 4 Viagra pills for £50 following a consultation with the pharmacist.

This in itself is a good move, taking the back street drug vendor out of the loop, ensuring that the guy undergoes an hour long consultation, including blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol checks. This will also allow Boots to identify people who should be receiving this drug free from their GP on medical grounds.

I must admit this seems to be a move in the right direction but at the same time it does make me worried that an increasing number of men are turning to the drug as a recreational one. Young men are obtaining and using the drug to have all night sexual prowess and this is worrying because a long term side effect of using it can be erectile dysfuction.

It reminds me very much of the pain killer addiction stories I have read. Where pain killers are taken to relieve headaches but at the same time cause medication over-use headaches, therefore creating a vicious circle.

On a more positive note, Viagra was used to save a baby’s life. Here is the link to the incredible story of Lewis Goodfellow, born at just 24 weeks with a failing lung and whose life was saved by Viagra.

Tags: viagra,medication over use headache,medication overuse headache,erection,erectile disfunction,corpora cavernosa,tunica albuginea,impotence

6 thoughts on “Out Of The Blue

  1. Informative post Suze!

    It’s hilarious to me, though, seeing as whenever my Hubby ‘arrives’ that little bit early he thinks it means he is the Winner! He even brags to his mates at the pub that he can get nude, do the rude, and be dressed again all within three minutes!

    Obviously it impresses’ me less than them!

  2. Great post. While there is obviously a need for medications like this, I agree that it could be a problem. Instead of trying to figure out and fix the problem (like you said, smoking, stress, ect.) people are turning to a pill. Some of them could be better served by living more healthily and having better communication and patience in the bedroom. (Which is not to say that there isn’t a need for this for some men.) But, then, isn’t this the way our society is going? Have heartburn? Don’t eat better or lose weight, take a pill! Can’t sleep? Don’t lower your stress or get more exercise, take a pill! (BTW, I have taken pills for both those conditions, it’s just an example.)

  3. very interesting, i never knew it could be used for other conditions, i wonder what else it could be used for. Thanks for the post about the little blue pill. I hope i dont have to use it but i’m glad its there if i have too. I have had problems with high blood pressure meds, just changing meds solved the problem..

  4. I have used this drug for medical purposes on my paients both male and female for pulmonary hypertension. The dosing is different then for erectile dysfunction. I too am concerned about the recreational use of Viagra. I also did not appreciate a former partner using this without my knowledge. Sexual satisfacition is not all about pentration, it amazes me how many people continue to think so. nice article alex.

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