Erectile dysfunction (ED) is not just something that strikes down older men as they enter their twilight years. According to a 2013 study that was published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, about 25 percent of all men under the age of 40 have experienced ED. And trying to apologize to a young woman for not “rising to the occasion” in the bedroom is going to be something you remember for the rest of your life.

 

However, before you decide to join the priesthood because ED has been happening more and more frequently, there are possible options out there that can cure the problem. One such solution is Viagra. 

 

How Does Viagra Work?

 

Viagra, also known under the generic name sildenafil, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1998 as a treatment for ED. It works by increasing blood flow to the penis by relaxing muscles in blood vessel walls. With the muscles relaxed, the blood starts to flow more freely and with the increased circulation, it is much easier to get an erection and maintain it for a good period of time. While they say that Viagra will not make the man have an erection without some sort of sexual stimulation first, this could be refuted by numerous men. In any case, don’t plan on spotting another guy on bench press right after taking a dose of Viagra unless you may have to explain yourself. 

 

How Long Does Sildenafil Work?

While it would be nice to know for certain just how long Viagra will last for you before experiencing it, the truth is that every man will encounter something a little different. A man’s age, health, the dose, and various other things will all play a factor. 

 

Of course, Viagra is a drug that needs to be prescribed by a medical professional, but the average dose that is usually recommended could be anywhere from 25mg to 100mg. Before the full effects can be felt, some men will only have to wait for a half an hour and other men will have to wait closer to four hours before they are able to achieve the erection they want. Viagra will usually be completely out of your system anywhere from two to six hours depending upon your metabolism. 

 

Sildenafil Benefits

 

Besides the whole erection and being able to have sex thing, there are other benefits to taking Viagra as well. It can be used to treat pulmonary hypertension as it can reduce high blood pressure. People also take it to combat mountain sickness as it can reduce artery pressure in high altitudes. In addition, Viagra has shown a lot of promise with Raynaud’s Phenomenon and limiting the amount of cold trigger spasms to small arteries. Finally, as heart disease is the number one killer for both men and women across the globe, Viagra is said to assist with preventing congestive heart failure. 

 

External Factors for Needing Sildenafil

There may be external factors for a man needing sildenafil that play a role in the inability to get and maintain an erection. It is not uncommon for most civilized countries to have 40 percent of their adult population be classified as obese. This does not even take into account the people that are merely overweight. Unfortunately, heart disease, diabetes, and high cholesterol are all associated with both obesity and ED. 

 

In addition, smoking consistently damages blood vessels. This stops the blood from circulating around the body like it needs to, especially for creating erections. This is yet another reason to give up smoking. 

 

If you are man that enjoys having a few drinks now and then, you may have experienced difficulty getting an erection after a night out on the town. This is not uncommon at all as alcohol can numb the senses. 

Another outside factor could be your lifestyle. If you live a sedentary life where you spend hours behind the desk and in front of the television, the lack of activity can sort of put your body into hibernation. If you start a workout routine, you might be able to reverse your ED on your own. 

 

Furthermore, if you have ED and rarely think about having sex, low testosterone could be the issue. Ask your doctor about getting your testosterone levels checked. If they are low, getting weekly injections could get your testosterone back up into the normal range and ED may be a thing of the past. 

 

What If Sildenafil Is Not Working?

Viagra doesn’t immediately work for part of the population. It can often take a few times using it before you experience the supercharged erection that you are looking for. Furthermore, your doctor may have prescribed you a low dose to begin with to see how you would respond to it. Once consulting with your medical professional, they may tell you to up the dose and see what happens. It is always best to take too low of a dose to begin with because the last thing you want is to suffer from priapism because of ingesting too much Viagra (a painful and awkwardly explained erection that lasts longer than four hours).

 

Viagra vs Other ED Medications

As mentioned before, each man may experience different results when taking ED medications. But based on the information about the drugs and the studies conducted, there are some interesting benefits to each one of them. 

 

For instance, Cialis (tadalafil) and Viagra are the two most well-known prescription ED drugs. However, as Viagra is out of your system within a few hours, Cialis can remain in the body for 36 hours and still be supplying erections a couple of days later. Viagra, on the other hand, is thought to act quicker than Cialis overall. 

 

Then, of course, there is also the popular Levitra (vardenafil). It is very comparable to Viagra, but has fewer listed side effects. Plus, its effects are said not to be diminished when taken with food or alcohol like what can happen when taking Viagra. 

 

Lastly, if you would rather try taking something that is more natural and does not need a prescription, there is an amino acid called L-arginine that will boost the production of nitric oxide in your body. Nitric oxide will help to dialate blood vessels as well, so in turn more blood will be circulating which can lead also to an erection.