If you’re worried about how long you last in bed, know that you are not alone. Some studies have found that one in five men are dissatisfied with their sexual endurance. Other research puts that figure as high as 40% of men.
The differences between estimates depend on the ways that sexual stamina – and premature ejaculation (PE) – is defined. However, the more important lesson from these studies is that concerns about how long we last are actually much more common than we might think.
Unfortunately, though, so are lots of misunderstandings about sexual health and sexual performance. In this article, we are talking about one of these misconceptions, that focuses on the link between Viagra and sexual stamina.
So, do Viagra pills help you last longer in bed? The answer is yes and no. Let’s find out why.
Firstly, What is Viagra?
As many as 40% of men at the age of 40 have experienced erectile dysfunction (ED) to some degree throughout their life. Whilst only a quarter of men with ED seek treatment for their symptoms, Viagra – and the active ingredient, Sildenafil, by which it is powered – is one of the most famous ways to manage the condition.
Sildenafil is what is known as a PDE5 inhibitor. This class of drug – including Sildenafil and Cialis or Tadalafil – targets PDE5, an enzyme that is responsible for smooth muscle contraction in the blood vessels to the penis. When the effect of this enzyme is inhibited, more blood flows to where you need it. This, in turn, boosts your chances of getting and keeping your erection.
This type of drug is remarkably effective. Sildenafil helps men to achieve firmer erections for longer in 80% of cases, the highest success rate of all PDE5 inhibitors.
But Can Viagra Make You Last Longer in Bed?
We know it helps us to get erections, but can Viagra make you last longer in bed? It’s one of the more prevalent misunderstandings of the ED treatment. Unfortunately, though, the answer is not as simple as a mere yes or no.
In reality, Viagra can help your stamina in some contexts. However, it will not delay ejaculation or reduce your sensitivity in the way men suffering from PE might hope.
If you aren’t lasting as long as you would like in bed because you struggle to sustain an erection, Viagra’s your man. This is a hugely common symptom of ED, in which men might find that they are able to achieve an erection, but they cannot keep it long enough to finish. Along with other symptoms of erectile dysfunction, Viagra was created to help exactly this.
Viagra is not, however, a cure-all for any male sexual health problems, as some vendors on the internet might have you think. Viagra is licensed specifically as a treatment for erectile dysfunction – and it should only be used to treat the symptoms of this condition.
Viagra and Premature Ejaculation
This means that Viagra and other PDE5 inhibitors will not be able to guarantee you effective treatment if you are experiencing premature ejaculation.
Whilst the condition is not fully understood, scientists tend to define PE as ejaculation within a minute of penetrative sexual intercourse. Just over five minutes appears in studies, meanwhile, as an average latency time.
What complicates possible treatment of PE, though, is that scientists are not yet certain of its cause. Where erectile dysfunction can be treated by addressing a specific physical mechanism in the penis – i.e. the ability of blood to enter the area – something so specific has not yet been isolated for premature ejaculation. Instead, different scientists have theorised that PE’s cause may be anxiety, childhood trauma, or physiological disorders. None of these have yet been confirmed.
What we do know is that Viagra hasn’t proven sufficiently effective as a treatment in clinical trials. Whilst one study showed a possible link between the ED drug and the condition, the sample size was too small to be conclusive. A similar study, meanwhile, did not find a statistically significant connection between Viagra and premature ejaculation.
Simply put, Viagra is not yet considered an effective treatment for premature ejaculation – and so shouldn’t be used for this purpose. It will not increase the time for which you can have sex before you reach orgasm and it will not decrease your sensitivity.
Erectile Dysfunction and Premature Ejaculation
However, scientists have found that up to half of men with erectile dysfunction experience premature ejaculation. Rushing to ejaculate before losing your erection might be a significant cause of this. Meanwhile, performance anxiety – relating to the expectation that you won’t be able to finish at all – can contribute too.
Whilst generic unbranded Sildenafil, branded Viagra, and other PDE5 inhibitors are only going to help you last longer in bed if your endurance is affected by erectile dysfunction, these drugs might bring further benefits to the sexual experience.
Studies, for example, have found that men using Sildenafil have greater sexual confidence and report higher levels of sexual satisfaction – even among those with a low latency time.
Key Takeaways
So, can Viagra make you last longer in bed? Yes and no. Viagra is a drug that treats erectile dysfunction and its symptoms. It enables an increased flow of blood to the penis, which enhances the chances of your being able to achieve and sustain an erection.
In this way, if you are dissatisfied with how long you last in bed due to your inability to keep an erection, Viagra can help. This is also true if you are rushing to ejaculate before you lose your erection.
However, neither generic unbranded Sildenafil nor branded Viagra is a treatment for premature ejaculation itself. In clinical trials, Viagra did not show a statistically significant effect on the ability of men without ED to last longer in bed.
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While we've ensured that everything you read on the Health Centre is medically reviewed and approved, information presented here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It should never be relied upon for specific medical advice. If you have any questions or concerns, please talk to your doctor.
