Viagra can Make your Penis Harder and Save your Penis from Injury as well

It’s no secret that Viagra makes your penis harder for penetrative sex. But what you might not know is that it can save your penis from injury — if you start taking it early enough.

If you’re experiencing erectile dysfunction but wait to talk to your doctor until you can’t achieve an erection hard enough for penetrative sex, you may damage your penis. Having sex with an erection that’s barely “hard enough” can bend it and tear tissues that may scar as they heal, Dr. Montague says.

Scar tissue isn’t elastic like healthy penile tissue, so it will force your penis to bend with future erections, creating a condition known as Peyronie’s disease.

This affects 9 percent of men between the ages of 40 and 75. Many of these men have what Dr. Montague calls erectile insufficiency — erections that are not as firm as they used to be. During intercourse, bending may damage the penis. Taking Viagra could help prevent the problem and avoid an injury with lifelong consequences, he says.

No matter what your concern is, talk with your doctor. “If you’re having erectile dysfunction problems, you should feel confident going to your doctor. It’s a common issue,” Dr. Montague says. “Many men are embarrassed, but they shouldn’t be. Help is available, and it’s worth a try.”

Why Men Are Misusing Viagra and Other ED Drugs

Men who don’t have problems getting an erection may still want to up their game.

“There are certainly plenty of examples of men trying to get their hands on Viagra when they don’t necessarily have ED,” says Dr. Eisenberg. “In some cases, it might just be to enhance performance or to perform better sexually.”

Why Viagra May Be Used in a Recreational Fashion

Some use Viagra not for ED but because they’ve heard it can enhance athletic performance. For other men, it’s all about convenience and cost. They want the drug without the hassle of getting a prescription.

“Most of us live busy lives, and some men might find it hard to see their doctor,” says Eisenberg. “Also, there’s a stigma about ED. Many younger men might be embarrassed about getting help.”

How Are They Getting Viagra Without an Rx?

Purchasing Viagra online seems to be a popular way to obtain the drug.

A study published in the journal Current Drug Abuse Reviews suggested that easy access was one reason men cited for abuse of ED drugs. A search for internet drugstores found over 6 million hits at 7,000 online pharmacies.

Eisenberg says he’s also heard of men getting Viagra from their friends or relatives.

Recreational Use of Viagra Can Be Very Dangerous

Buying Viagra from an unreliable source can be risky. Drugs sold online may be fake, contaminated, or expired.

According to press statements, in 2011, Pfizer Global Security looked at 22 websites that appeared in the top search results for the phrase “buy Viagra.” They found that about 80 percent of these pills were counterfeit. These fake Viagra pills did contain the active ingredient sildenafil, but only about 30 percent to 50 percent of the amount advertised.

“With the internet, you really never know what you’re getting,” Eisenberg says.

It’s also important to know that Viagra can cause side effects, such as:

  • Headache
  • Upset stomach or diarrhea
  • Dizziness
  • Heartburn
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Nosebleeds
  • Flushing
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Muscle or back pain
  • Numbness or tingling in the hands, arms, feet, or legs
  • Sensitivity to light or vision changes

Using Viagra can lead to serious risks, too, if you have an underlying medical condition. For instance, men with heart disease who take drugs known as nitrates can develop dangerously low blood pressure if they take Viagra.

“We have to make sure these men are healthy before starting them on ED medications,” stresses Eisenberg.

Another concern is that some men who use ED meds recreationally mix them with other, illicit drugs. A survey published in the journal Archives of Sexual Behavior found that 4 percent of college-age men admitted to using ED drugs recreationally. Most of them combined the ED meds with other drugs and participated in risky sexual behaviors.

Some men who don’t have ED but use Viagra may also become psychologically addicted to the medicine and depend on it to get an erection.