Viagra and its side-effects
If you think Viagra and other erectile drugs are passport to satisfying sexual encounters, think again. Dr Mahinder Watsa warns you of their side-effects
It's a growing phenomenon to find all health related issues being prescribed a pill. Common cold, a mild headache, to generally feeling down and out, everything comes with a pill to snap you out of it. Sex then, is no exception. Increasingly, we find young men, with no apparent major sexual problem, taking to drugs meant to help the ones suffering from erectile dysfunction. To make matters worse, hardly anyone realise the adverse repercussions of such self-medication. A temporary boost in their sexual performance, may land their long-term wellness in jeopardy.
The larger picture
The fast food generation is slowly forgetting the art of love and depend excessively on easily available drugs to whip-up their flagging sex life. Scientists may credit Sildenafil as ‘the magic bullet to help couples have deeper and more satisfying sexual encounters.’ But the truth is, the drug doesn't cause an automatic erection. For it to be effective, mental and tactile stimulation and foreplay engagement is required.
Ask the pro
Vatsayana of the Kamasutra fame has suggested many ways to stimulate desire and performance for sexual happiness. He was innovative enough to come up with seven different ways of kissing, eight varieties of touch, four methods of stroking the body and eight sounds that may be emitted during sex and foreplay.
How can drugs, meant to delay ejaculation or correct erectile dysfunction, replace the bond that lovers feel when they touch, kiss, cuddle and care for each other?
Blame your priorities
A survey among youngsters revealed an interesting facet. In terms of priorities, a good career was ranked the highest (by almost 60 per cent), followed by social service (18 per cent) and then a happy marriage (13 per cent). If your priorities are lopsided how do you expect to be sexually satisfied? Sex and love aren't water-tight compartments in a marriage. One aspect invariably affects the other. If you don’t make time for your lover, how do you expect to sexually and emotionally connect?
The risk
While overuse of any drug always comes with risks or side-effects, an over usage of Sildenafil can lead to a series of serious sideeffects such as addiction to the drug, headache and dizziness.
Image makeover
People still rely on the clichéd ‘macho’ image, with many men behaving as if their brains are located below their belts. Many mistakenly believe that if they take a tablet, they will perform better. Just one failure at sexual intercourse (which is a perfectly normal occurrence) may land them in wrongly using an erectile dysfunction drug. If they improve their lifestyle, get rid of misconceptions, modify priorities and work on their attitude, chances are that they would never require such drugs.
The real reason
To be sexually happy, one needn't join the ‘Erectile Dysfunction’ club. One of the following could be your reasons for the occasional non-performance:
• Overeating and being obese
• Alcohol, smoke or drug abuse
• Guilt of an extramarital relationship
• Pressure to perform with an extramarital partner
• Overwork
• Anxiety and tension
• Lack of exercise
• Problems in your sex life can also be side-effects to certain illnesses and disorders. In such cases, relying on erectile drugs can only make matters worse. In many cases, diabetes or cardiac problems are discovered when the person complains of ‘sexual problems’.
• At times, drugs that are meant to correct disorders, disrupt normal sexual functioning leading to dysfunction issues. For instance, diuretics, anti-hypertensives and anti-convulsants, etc are known to have adverse effects on one's sex life. As awareness grows, physicians are now being careful during the prescription stage itself. Various studies are being carried out to study the relationship between these drugs and one’s sex life.
When it’s actually needed
Erectile dysfunction drugs may be required temporarily to regenerate interest. The inability to get a good erection in a young man causes unnecessary anxiety and tension and can even lead to suicide in extreme cases. The only instance where erectile drugs are useful (among normal adults) is to restore their confidence and show them they ‘can’ get an erection. No amount of drugs can help the couple to achieve sexual happiness. The key lies in solving interpersonal differences, believing in equal partnership and caring for each other’s wishes.
