Viagra and Priapism: Is it Counter-Productive?

[DaveC426913]

Note: this is a purely academic and hypothetical question, not in any way practical for or applicable to me personally.

A friend of mine was pleased that his doctor gave him some Viagra samples. I am under the impression that, sexually, Viagra does one thing and one thing only: it prolongs an erection. i.e. it does not affect the ability to ejaculate. (The effect of this is that you might be "done", but your little buddy won't go away. He can't do anything, he just wants to hang around).

So, in my opinion, unless you literally can;t get it up, Viagra is not merely useless, it is counter-productive. (What is the point in having an erection if you can't relieve it?)

Mrs. DaveC426913 thinks that Viagra also prolongs ejaculation, pushing it out by as much as hours (what is the medical terms for inability to ejaculate?). I cannot find any articles that even hint at this.

In a nutshell: all other things being equal, will a subject on Viagra reach climax in the basically same length of time as a control subject?

Thanks in advance Moonie.

 

[Monique]

I am under the impression that, sexually, Viagra does one thing and one thing only: it prolongs an erection.

Strictly speaking that is not correct.

During arousal a man will have increased levels of cGMP in the corpus cavernosum, what Viagra does is prevent the breakdown of that molecule (specifically in the penis) so that it can accumulate faster. Nitric oxide signaling during arousal will use the cGMP to dilate the deep arteries in the penis, allowing the cavernous blood sinuses to engorge. In this way it helps men achieve an erection, it has nothing to do with the process of ejaculation itself.

Theoretically arousal (NO/cGMP signalling) is required for the erection to start, so when the arousal ceases the erection should also go away. (with the exception of the unlucky few)

It may give a better erection, but why use a drug when you don't have a problem.

 

[arildno]

Note: this is a purely academic and hypothetical question, not in any way practical for or applicable to me personally.

How nice for Mrs. Dave!

what is the medical terms for inability to ejaculate?).

Anejaculation, in orgasmic and anorgasmic varieties.

In fact, there is a whole website devoted to this condition, namely:
http://www.anejaculation.com/

There, you will also be able to learn about the fascinating phenomenon called "retrograde ejaculation".

 

[DaveC426913]

Strictly speaking that is not correct.

Right. Yes. It helps achgeive and erection. Sometimes it prolongs it.

it has nothing to do with the process of ejaculation itself.

This is getting at the heart of my question. Whether it affects ejaculation or not.


Actually, the heart of my question is really this: why would a guy (or guys) - who ostensibly are healthy - want to give Viagra a try? Unless I am wrong, there is no recreational benefit from it i.e. there is nothing it does to improve sexual performance in any fashion (longer, faster, more stamina, whatever) if the recipient does not suffer from ED. What is the recreational benefit?

So, by saying 'look what I scored', they are saying one of two things:
1] I have eractile dysfunction, or
2] I am misinformed about the benefits of Viagra.

 

[DanP]

So, by saying 'look what I scored', they are saying one of two things:
1] I have eractile dysfunction, or
2] I am misinformed about the benefits of Viagra.

Try it in a night when you want to break records. I.e how many times you can perform in a row. When your motivation pretty much drops, but you want to push it even further.
For some ppl this is pretty much "recreational".

Its also used in pornographic industry. It helps being "ready", even if you are pretty much fed up performing.

 

[DaveC426913]

Try it in a night when you want to break records. I.e how many times you can perform in a row. When your motivation pretty much drops, but you want to push it even further.

This is exactly what I'm getting at.

Viagra just ensures you have a hammer, it doesn't help with putting the nails in. Usually, you, uh, can only nail one at a time before you get tired. Now you've got a hammer and nothing to do with it.

Or is this what my friend is hoping for? That'll he'll have the stamina to keep nailing.

 

[DanP]

This is exactly what I'm getting at.

Viagra just ensures you have a hammer, it doesn't help with putting the nails in. Usually, you, uh, can only nail one at a time before you get tired. Now you've got a hammer and nothing to do with it.

Or is this what my friend is hoping for? That'll he'll have the stamina to keep nailing.

I really have no idea what your friend wants to do. If you are very good friends you can ask him and gent a honest answer and his point of view.

 

[DaveC426913]

I really have no idea what your friend wants to do. If you are very good friends you can ask him and gent a honest answer and his point of view.

Well, I would not be comfortable if the answer were actually ED. It's not a door I really want to crack open.

What I do know, is that he (and another friend) are fond of recreational drugs.

 

[Monique]

I don't know the details of why people use it recreationally, but some men are insecure about their erection (but don't necessarily have ED). That's when Viagra can give them the confidence to perform.

Recreational users can become psychologically dependent on Viagra use: they feel they need to pop a pill in order to proceed.

 

[Andy Resnick]

<snip>
Actually, the heart of my question is really this: why would a guy (or guys) - who ostensibly are healthy - want to give Viagra a try? <snip>.

My dad was a Urologist, and when viagra was introduced, his staff was overwhelmed by the number of inquiries they had to deal with. Remember that prior to Viagra, there was pretty much only caverject available. Viagra lowered the barrier, so to speak.

Anyhow, although he never divulged identities, he told me (years ago) that viagra was being used/abused as (his words) a 'bar drug'- people could go out, get drunk, pop a pill and perform when normally they would not be able to.

But the real answer is deceptively simple- men are engrossed, obsessed, etc. in all matters relating to their organ.

 

[DaveC426913]

...some men are insecure about their erection (but don't necessarily have ED). That's when Viagra can give them the confidence to perform.

Which makes it seem kind of odd that my friend would be proud to show off his acquisition.

 

[Moonbear]

As Monique has explained very well already, Viagra does not help with ejaculation, only the erection process itself.

For those who don't actually need it to treat a medical condition, the reasons for obtaining it and then bragging about it vary somewhat. Part of it may be not understanding the distinction between the different stages of male sexual functioning to realize that it's not going to help them achieve ejaculation more often, nor is it going to enhance their motivation to keep going once ejaculation is achieved.

For some, it may be a pride thing to be able to please their partner for longer even if they themselves aren't getting any added benefit.

And for some, it is indeed as Andy suggests, that they are simply bragging, either about the status of their penis or just making it known that they actually have someone willing to engage in intercourse with them.

And, then there's the last option, that for a recreational drug user, it doesn't matter. If there's a pill to try, they will, just to see if they get any added pleasure from it. Of course, it may be that as a recreational drug user, he's having some difficulties while under the influence of those drugs. Of course, that's a bad combination for the heart, so if you see lots of flashing lights outside his house, you might have some idea why.

 

[DanP]

Part of it may be not understanding the distinction between the different stages of male sexual functioning to realize that it's not going to help them achieve ejaculation more often, nor is it going to enhance their motivation to keep going once ejaculation is achieved.

I think you got the wrong idea. The drug is not used recreationally by some ppl to increase the number of ejaculations. Many times it's plainly used in cases where the subject doesn't even wants to ejaculate during a sexual act, only to enhance erections during multiple performances over a pretty long time. I think you covered this case by saying "thing to be able to please their partner". Whatever this is because "they want to pleasure" or "they want to impress" is wildly different from a case to another.

Second, no one said it "enhances motivation". But as sure as hell it will help you "get it up" when your motivation to perform is pretty low.

Ppl who use it as a "performance enhancer" usually have a lot of other tricks in the sleeve. Control of ejaculation is one of them. We shouldn't associate performance with ejaculation.

 

[DanP]

Which makes it seem kind of odd that my friend would be proud to show off his acquisition.

Broad view:

There subcultures which put a lot of accent on sexual prowess. Ppl belonging to then will do a lot of things for this, ranging from learning perfect control over ejaculation to the use of mechanical helpers. In some cases, for example a man with no ED issues may use mechanical helpers (generally implemented as a loose strangulation at the base of penis) to keep the erectile tissues gorged with blood, in addition to what a level considered normal. A chemical enhancer would be even more handy, don't you think ?

About "showing off", I personally met man who where extremely proud by the size of their penis, but surprisingly, they where apparently more excited by the "envy" they caused in other males than what they can do for a women. Probably driven by the same psychological mechanisms which are in effect when you build a very strong, muscular and cleverly proportioned body. The type of man who just radiate health and strength, I am sure all of us seen one

Maybe your friend has ED. But chances are if he would have, he would (at least in theory) not be so proud to display to you his latest acquisition.

Maybe he is just fond of recreational drugs. What drives him there, I don't know. What the hell drives high level sportman generally involved in team sports to binge drink sometimes (even if those guys are perfectly aware of the negative effects of such a drinking session ?)
The feeling of the pack ? The bonding it creates between many team members

Maybe he is one who praises sexual prowess above a lot of other things. In this case I think
it's easy for you to see the signs, because more often than not such a person will try and often succeed to have much more sexual partners than the average. Also many times the subject is very social savvy, meaning he knows how to use social skills and appearances to get more partners. It usually also handles rejection very easy, it doesn't dwell at all on failures. In extreme cases he would even relay on statistics (the more you try, the more you get). They also may be fond of open relationships.

Whatever it is, I don't think youll get an answer on internet.

 

[DaveC426913]

Whatever it is, I don't think youll get an answer on internet.

Well, all I was looking for were facts. I can suss out my friends' motivation.

...it may be that as a recreational drug user, he's having some difficulties while under the influence of those drugs. ...

This is definitely a factor. And his wife is none too pleased about one more drug as a solution.

 

[DanP]

This is definitely a factor. And his wife is none too pleased about one more drug as a solution.

Did she confess this to you ? Or its just something you extrapolated ? This pathway logically implies that your friend has an ED.

 

[Moonbear]

I think you got the wrong idea.

No, I clearly elaborated several different possibilities, in addition to the others already posed by others that didn't require repeating. You just seemed to pick one and chose to ignore the rest in my response. Unless you are a mind reader, how can you know which of the reasons is the actual one? There is no ONE reason why people abuse medications, and there are a lot of myths about what Viagra does, which is precisely what the thread is asking about, trying to sort out the prevailing myths vs. facts.

 

[DaveC426913]

Did she confess this to you ?

Yes.

This pathway logically implies that your friend has an ED.

Yes.

The general consensus is, rather than adding a drug to try to fix the problem, perhaps removing some existing drugs (and booze) might be a better route.

 

[Proton Soup]

i don't really understand the questions here. it seems as if some think orgasm is the goal? maybe for some it is, but sex is pleasurable in itself without orgasm.

also, remember that some men suffer from premature ejaculation, which can become more than simply an ego thing for him when there's a partner involved.

 

[mcknia07]

All Viagra does is helps a man to "get it up". He would still have to be able to do everything else. Same with Cialis and Levitra, they just help a man to achieve and maintain an erection. It just increases the blood flow.