The issue erection meds can’t fix

By Ashley Balcerzak

Looks like that little blue pill can’t solve all your problems. Erection drugs won’t improve your relationship, suggests a new study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.

Men who were treated for erectile dysfunction (ED) with PDE5 inhibitors, or medicines including Viagra or Livitra, for roughly half a year reported higher levels of sexual gratification and confidence after treatment. Yet they saw no notable improvement in overall life or relationship satisfaction.

This makes sense: ED impacts more than your ability to keep it up. In fact, this data shows ED can take a toll on your mood, ego, and self-esteem. So while the pills may help you attain an erection, better sexual function doesn’t always translate to a happy relationship.

Therefore treatments that target both physical and psychological aspects of ED are likely to be the most effective for men with deeper-rooted issues, the study notes.

It’s also possible that the men in the study were already in relatively good relationships, leaving little room for improvement, says study author Dr Stanley E Althof. So this would explain why their relationship satisfaction did not improve, he adds.

To ward off impotence organically, practice pelvic-floor exercises. Researchers found that 40 per cent of men who performed Kegels every day for 6 months regained normal sexual function. (Click here to learn more rules to build stronger erections.)

But if your penis is already in peril, ease the pressure of ED by focusing less on sex. In a 2011 study, when couples concentrated their efforts on intimate actions—like kissing, petting, and touching—it significantly diminished the impact of ED on the happiness of both partners.