When you hear Viagra, you think erectile dysfunction, older men, dads, and grandpas. True! Since 1998 when it was introduced, it has helped a lot of men manage ED. Viagra has been a lifesaver since the nineties. Mostly among men 50 years and above who suffer from ED. But that’s not the case anymore. There is now a prevalent use of Viagra among younger men. 

Young people (millennials and GenZ) are becoming too comfortable taking Viagra for recreational purposes to feel charged up during sex.

A study conducted as far back as 2012 by The Journal AIDS showed that about one in three gays without ED who were being treated at San Francisco health clinic admitted to using viagra (often combined with illegal drugs) as a sex enhancer.

The Sunday Times reported that more young Singaporean men with anxiety issues and stress are using Viagra. Professor Peter Lim, senior consultant urologist and president of the Society for Men's Health Singapore, confirmed in the report that there has been a 400% to 500% increase in demand, compared to the late 1990s.

The advent of an over-the-counter Viagra now available to anyone without a doctor's prescription has not helped. Sometimes, there may be no need to walk up to a pharmacist to access Viagra. Millennials and Gen Z see adverts of it on attractive websites. These online locations make it easy to order and get it delivered right from their electronic devices.

Filling out a questionnaire hasn't also curbed the high demand for Viagra. Young men who use this blue pill admit that they tell an outright lie about having ED or just say they get the symptoms from time to time.

However, Doctors continue to advise that viagra is a prescription drug and should rightly be used as such. Is this to suggest that young men do not suffer from ED? The answer is no. Young men can have ED, and the drug itself is recommended to be prescribed to men aged 18 years and above.

ED as a remedy continues to be a welcome idea. But as an enhancer, it may lead to some problems.

Problems of ED as an Enhancer

Taking Viagra for recreational purposes results from a skewed sexual orientation that may be influenced by watching pornography. Young ones may fail to realize that what they view is far removed from the reality of how sex happens. 

This is especially true for phallocentric intimacy among hetrosexuals, which makes young ones overly concerned about the performance of the penis in duration and skill. 

Young men are now less and less confident of their sexual ability without even testing it out. Viagra helps them to bring back that confidence.

The Irish Examiner reported in 2019 that binge-watching porn is leading to erectile difficulties in young men who believe they should emulate porn actors. Young men who use ED as enhancers suffer from performance anxiety rather than ED because they expect to fail. As a result of popping Viagra each time before having sex, they become overly dependent on it. 

Sadly, Viagra does not treat underlying psychological issues. It only addresses the physical challenge by giving a hard erection. But the stress and anxiety may never go away, which means Viagra has to be taken every time to help the penis get up.

ED medications even though safe may lower blood pressure. Lowered blood pressure reduces blood flow to vital organs that put the heart at risk.

It could even be worse. 

There is also the problem of prolonged hardness known as priapism. Viagra may cause an erection that lasts more than six hours which leads to priapism. This condition occurs when there is no active blood flow. There is not enough oxygenated blood flowing into the tissues, and as a result, healthy muscles of the penis begin to die and scar. And what happens is a weak erection with scarring and shrinking of the penis. In other words, misuse of Viagra can cause physical damage to the penis leading to actual erectile dysfunction.

How to avoid the Viagra pitfall

1. Have a realistic view of your sexual performance. Don’t think of yourself as a porn star and don’t see sex as a sport. Consider that you are not in a competition with anyone. Understand and accept how far you can go.

2. Openly communicate with your partner. Talk to your partner about what they expect of you. You both should take out time to understand your needs.

3. You can also share your concerns with your partner if you feel some anxiety.

4. Don't be too fast to misdiagnose yourself by concluding you have Erectile Dysfunction. A weak erection doesn't mean that you have ED

5. See a doctor if your anxiety persists and you experience a weak erection sometimes. 

More reasons to avoid Viagra 

Ordering viagra online without consulting a doctor may lead you to consume fake Viagra. As reported by MedPageToday, up to 77% of Viagra sold online are counterfeit and may be dangerous to health. Irwin Goldstein, MD, of San Diego Sexual Medicine in California, and colleagues came to this conclusion after analyzing 22 pills from different websites. They discovered that these pills had just between 30% and 50% of the level of active ingredient advertised. Similarly, in 2014, HSA reported 11 deaths and more than 300 adverse reactions to fake and illegal sexual enhancement medications over a 6-month duration.

The only safe way to get safe Viagra online is from reputable sites within your country. Telehealth platforms are one of the safest places to shop for Viagra. Ofnoah offers consultation services and after evaluation, may prescribe Viagra if there is a need for it. The best part is, if the cause of ED isn’t physical, you can book a session with a therapist to get the right help you need. You also will find this arrangement convenient because you won’t have to deal with the awkwardness that comes with talking about your sexual problems face-to-face with a stranger. 

So what’s the bottom line? Taking Viagra without proper diagnosis and prescription isn’t good for anyone, young or old. If you suspect you have a problem with your sexual performance, always see a doctor first. Don't get ahead of yourself.