Erectile dysfunction is a common condition affecting around half of the male population in the UK. It is characterised by a difficulty in achieving an erection that’s firm enough for sexual intercourse.

Those who are over 70 years old are more likely to experience erectile dysfunction due to physical (e.g. age, health, obesity, etc.), mental (e.g. depression, anxiety, etc.), and social (e.g. relationship issues) factors. Erectile dysfunction treatments include sexual therapy, aphrodisiacs, and prescription treatments like Viagra.

What is Viagra?

Viagra is an erectile dysfunction treatment developed in the UK and sold by Pfizer. Viagra contains sildenafil citrate, an ingredient that causes muscles surrounding blood vessels to relax. This increases blood flow to the penis so you can get an erection that’s firm enough for sexual intercourse.

Viagra requires sexual stimulation to work. It can last up to three hours and is considered completely safe by doctors.

Below are four interesting facts that you probably didn’t know about Viagra.

4 Interesting Facts about Viagra

Fact #1: Viagra Makes Flowers Erect

Believe it or not, Viagra can make flowers erect too!

Flowers have a very short shelf life once they're cut. But - selling flowers is big business. So, companies around the world look for ways to make flowers last longer.

As luck would have it, a team of Australian and Israeli researchers discovered that 1 mg of Viagra dissolved in a vase of water could extend the shelf life of flowers by up to two weeks. How? Viagra inhibits the breakdown of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) that causes flowers to wither.

Fact 2: 80% of the Viagra You See Online is NOT Real

Not just Viagra but erectile dysfunction pills, in general, are considered to be one of the most counterfeited drugs in the world. This is a serious issue because it’s impossible to know what’s inside a fake Viagra pill and what side effects it could cause.

If they all look the same, how can I tell which is fake and which is isn’t?

• Tablet shape – real Viagra has a distinct diamond shape. The edges should be smooth. Counterfeit Viagra usually has jagged or indented edges.
• Colour consistency – the colour of real Viagra is uniform. Fake erectile dysfunction pills have colour variations in the same tablet or within tablets from the same packet. For example, the colour on one side may not be exactly the same as the other side.
• The number of tablets in a pack – legitimate Viagra comes in packs of 4 or singles. If the one you bought has more than four tablets in a pack, it's most likely fake.
• The “f” in Pfizer – the letter “f” in Pfizer is very hard to replicate. Look at the letter “f” in Pfizer when checking out the Viagra tablet. If real, you’ll notice that the “f” doesn’t thin out until the top.

Remember that you don’t need a prescription to buy Viagra in the UK (another interesting fact). You can buy Viagra online through Express Pharmacy and have a discreet package delivered to your door quickly.

Fact #3: Buying Viagra Can Help Save Endangered Species

Countless numbers of wild animals (tigers, seals, reindeers, rhinoceros, etc.) have been killed for their organs, meat, or genitals which are believed to cure erectile dysfunction - despite no scientific evidence. You have traditional Chinese medicine to thank for that!

Since Viagra entered the market, the demand for tiger bones, seal penises, rhino horn, and reindeer antlers have dropped significantly - even among the Chinese. And that’s great news!

Fact #4: Viagra Can Cure Jetlag

Seriously, it can, and it did - at least for a hamster who probably took a trans-Atlantic flight. In 2007, a group of Argentinian researchers discovered that Viagra could reset a hamster's circadian (sleep-wake cycle) faster than any other means. Pretty cool, huh?

Unfortunately, we don't know for sure if Viagra will have the same effect on humans. After all, we are not hamsters, are we?

And just so you know, the hamsters did not board an aeroplane. The jet lag effect was simulated by changing how much light the hamsters were exposed to during the experiment.

Bonus Fact: The CIA Used Viagra Against the Taliban

Like what the great Sun Tzu said, “if you want to win a war, know your enemy.” And it appears that the CIA took the philosopher’s advice to another level.

During the war in Afghanistan, information was valuable. But the usual bribe of money or weapons was too obvious. So, CIA operatives got creative and offered Viagra to local informants.

And it worked!

Most tribal chiefs, who were already too old to have some “fun”, had younger wives. Lots of them! So, a packet of four Viagra pills did wonders - not just on a bed in a distant Afghan village but also to the military who learnt about valuable Taliban movements, bases, and supply routes from this simple gesture.

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Whether you are a hamster, florist, conservationist, or the CIA, you can buy Viagra online through Express Pharmacy. Take confidence in using the world’s best treatment for erectile dysfunction.

While sex doesn’t need to go on for great lengths to be enjoyable, it is completely normal to seek ways to make the pleasure last longer.

Sex is much more than just an orgasm – it’s about connecting with your partner, too. Research has shown that around 45% of men ejaculate within two minutes, and for most heterosexual couples, the average duration of sexual intercourse is 5.4 minutes (without including time for foreplay).

Researchers have determined through numerous studies that for many couples, a desirable sex session would ideally last anywhere from 7 to 13 minutes. So, if you’re craving more intimacy and more of a connection with your partner, there are certain ways you can boost your sex life and extend the length of time you can have sex for.

How To Make Sex Last Longer

It’s a well-known fact that men can reach orgasm more easily and more quickly than women. But the fact that premature ejaculation is one of the most common sexual disorders in men under the age of 40, as well as everyday stresses compromising focus and confidence, couples often find that sex doesn’t last as long as they’d like. Here are some tips on how to make sex last longer:

1. Don't put pressure on yourself

The first thing to remember when trying to make sex last longer is that there’s no pressure. The rom-coms tell us that women are supposed to want hour-long sex sessions, but this tends to be an unrealistic portrayal; sex doesn’t have to feel like a marathon.

Each couple is different and the length of time you’re both happy with may not be the same as it would be for someone else. What each individual wants in bed is very personal and contextualised based on the relationship you have with each other. It’s a good idea to have a conversation with your partner to talk through what it is that each of you wants, including the desired duration. This can take the pressure off trying to reach an unrealistic goal.

2. Practise mindfulness

Mindfulness has been in the media a lot over the last few years, and with good reason.

Mindfulness is about paying attention to the present moment and training your mind to focus on one task at a time. While it’s usually associated with mental health, it’s actually great to remember when improving intimacy.

Mindfulness is great for reducing stress and anxiety, and that in turn can also be beneficial to your sex life, too. Sex and relationship therapists say that practising mindful sex can improve your physical and emotional health by allowing you to fully focus on your bodily sensations which leads to a more rewarding sexual experience.

You don’t just have to practise mindfulness in the bedroom, either. Through being mindful in everyday situations, you’ll naturally become a pro in all other aspects of life. There are numerous apps and guides for meditation that can help you relax and unwind, or you could try mindful eating where you focus on the taste and texture of different foods while avoiding distractions.

The slowed breathing and calmer outlook acquired through mindfulness will help to reduce stress which can also help to slow ejaculation down and provide you with the skills to maintain control and focus on your partner.

3. Try Viagra pills

If you find that different positions and mindfulness don’t improve your sex life to the extent you’d like, you may want to consider exploring prescription pills to prolong ejaculation. You can speak to your GP or buy Viagra online through Express Pharmacy to help make sex last longer.

Viagra was the first medication created to treat erectile dysfunction and it provides men suffering from impotence the ability to maintain an erection for longer. Viagra pills improve your ability to achieve and retain an erection, working for men of any age.

How Does Viagra Work?

Viagra works by widening the blood vessels in the body, allowing for more blood to flow to the penis during sexual stimulation. It contains the active ingredient Sildenafil which is a PDE-5 inhibitor. This stops a specific enzyme from working in the body which is responsible for keeping the blood vessels in the penis constricted. This enables the individual to achieve a harder erection which can be maintained for longer periods of time.

How To Take Viagra

Viagra should be taken around an hour before you plan on having sex. It should be taken orally in tablet form and can be effective for up to four hours after ingesting. This medication can be effective in as little as 30 minutes before intercourse but the speed at which Viagra works depends on several factors. Taking the tablet alongside a heavy or high-fat meal can slow down how quickly the body absorbs the Sildenafil and can delay its efficiency.

The recommended dose of Viagra is one 50mg tablet taken one hour before sexual activity. If you experience side effects from this dosage, you can lower the dose to 25mg on the next occasion or increase the dose to 100mg if 50mg proves to be too weak.

You shouldn’t take Viagra more than once a day as this will impact its effectiveness and could increase the chance of you experiencing negative side effects, such as headaches, dizziness or upset stomach.

Struggling To Perform? Get In Touch Today

Sex is meant to be enjoyed and what makes for the perfect sexual experience varies from couple to couple. But if you’re finding that you’re struggling to perform and want to explore ways to improve your sex life for you and your partner, get in touch with us on 0208 123 0703 for advice.

At some point in their lives, most men will experience some form of erectile dysfunction (ED). Chronic ED impacts around one in 20 men under 40 years old, and 15% of men at 70. Meanwhile, mild to moderate ED can impact as many as 10% of men per decade of life (i.e. 40% of men aged 40, 50% of men aged 50 etc, 60% of men aged 60.)[1]

Smoking is another key health concern in the UK. As many as 14.4% of UK adults are currently classified as smokers.[2] This is significant, as smoking plays a part in many of the most serious medical conditions, including cancer, heart disease, lung disease, osteoporosis, stroke and infertility.[3]

But is there a link between ED and smoking? Could smoking actually be at the root of your ED concerns?

What is erectile dysfunction?

Most men occasionally fail to achieve or maintain an erection during sexual activity, and this usually caused by stress, anxiety, tiredness or drinking too much. In these instances, this is generally nothing to worry about. However, if it happens frequently, it can be a sign of a wider case of ED.[4] Chronic ED can occur as a result of numerous factors, both physical and emotional, such as depression.[5]

The relationship between smoking and erectile dysfunction

Until around 20 years ago, ED was thought to be primarily caused by psychological factors. However, we now know that there are many physical factors at play too, including injury, hormonal conditions, anatomical conditions and surgery, to name a few.[6] One of the most prevalent physical causes of erectile dysfunction is a narrowing of the blood vessels going to the penis.[7]

This is where smoking comes in. Smoking can damage the lining of the blood vessels over time, preventing them from working at their maximum capacity.[8] This means that smoking can potentially have a direct impact on your likelihood of experiencing ED.

Research shows there likely is a connection

There has been a great deal of research into the connection between ED and smoking, and the results revealing that there is a link between the two factors.

One 2008 study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found strong parallels between smoking and ED — concluding that long-term smoking can detrimentally impact blood flow and blood vessels to the point where ED becomes more likely to occur.[9]

Furthermore, a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that ED was more likely to occur in men who smoked compared to those who never did.[10] Meanwhile another study, carried out in 2004, found the severity of ED corresponded significantly with the level of exposure to smoking.[11]

So what does this research tell us? It suggests that, if you’re a smoker suffering from ED, quitting smoking could reduce your symptoms. Thankfully, there is tried and tested medication which can help you achieve this.

Whether you’re looking for smoking cessation medication like Champix or erectile dysfunction treatment, Express Pharmacy has a range of safe and effective options available. Get in touch with our pharmacists today and get the support you need. Simply call 0208 123 07 03 or use our discreet online Live Chat service.

[1] UW Health. Erectile Dysfunction (ED). School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison. 2019

[2] NHS UK. Statistics on Smoking, England. 2019

[3] Smokefree by NHS. How smoking affects your body. 2018

[4] NHS UK. Erectile dysfunction (importence). 2017

[5] National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Symptoms & Causes of Erectile Dysfunction. 2017

[6] Sexual Advice Association. Erectile Dysfunction. 2016

[7] NHS Inform. Erectile dysfunction (impotence). 2020

[8] National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Smoking and Your Heart.2018

[9] Tostes, RC, PhD. et al. Cigarette Smoking and Erectile Dysfunction: Focus on NO Bioavailability and ROS Generation. The Journal of Sexual Medicine. 2008

[10] Gades, NM. et al. Association between Smoking and Erectile Dysfunction: A Population-based Study, American Journal of Epidemiology. 2005

[11] Pourmand, G. et al. Do cigarette smokers with erectile dysfunction benefit from stopping?: a prospective study. BJU International. 2004

It is perfectly normal for men to struggle with arousal at some point in their lives, but if the problem becomes frequent, it can cause strain on a relationship.

Studies have found that up to 52% of men experience symptoms of erectile dysfunction at some point in their lives, making it a pervasive problem across the globe. But how do you know if you actually have erectile dysfunction, and how is it treated?

What Is Erectile Dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is diagnosed when a male near enough always has difficulty achieving and/or maintaining an erection. It typically occurs when the blood flow is restricted to the penis.

There are many causes of erectile dysfunction; from stress and tiredness to anxiety and over-drinking. Medical problems can also cause erectile dysfunction, including diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart disease.

What Are The Symptoms of Erectile Dysfunction?

There are three main erectile dysfunction symptoms to look out for. If any of the below are frequently occurring when in the bedroom, you may be dealing with erectile dysfunction and could benefit from treatment.

1. Being Unable To Get An Erection

The main tell-tale sign of erectile dysfunction is being unable to get an erection when in the bedroom. Although this is perfectly normal from time to time and can be caused by other factors, frequent trouble may suggest an ED problem.

2. Being Unable To Maintain An Erection

There’s a common misconception that erectile dysfunction only means that you can’t get it ‘up’. However, in some instances, erectile dysfunction leaves some men unable to maintain an erection for as long as desired instead.

This symptom is not to be confused with premature ejaculation (although the two problems can overlap). When a man has erectile dysfunction and struggles to maintain an erection, it is unlikely that he will ejaculate.

3. Low Desire To Have Sex

Another symptom of erectile dysfunction is a reduced desire to have sex. Many men find that, if they are struggling with one of the above problems, they have a low sexual desire. However, the above problems aren’t always the cause; some men naturally have low sex drives, meaning getting aroused becomes quite the challenge.

Who is likely to be at risk from erectile dysfunction?

As mentioned previously, over 50% of men will experience erectile dysfunction at some point in their lives. Although it can affect anyone, people who fall into any of the following categories are at a higher risk of suffering from erectile dysfunction:

• Frequent alcohol drinkers
• Men aged over 40
• Those with depression, stress or anxiety
• Overweight men
• Those with a medical condition (eg: high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease)

With the above categories being fairly broad, it’s clear to see just how many men may have erectile dysfunction.

How do you treat erectile dysfunction?

Luckily, due to being such a global problem, there are many erectile dysfunction treatments available. The most popular treatments include:

Lifestyle Changes

You may have noticed that some of the people at risk of having erectile dysfunction can alleviate the issue with a few lifestyle changes. Reducing alcohol intake, maintaining a good exercise routine, eating healthily and stopping smoking are all lifestyle changes that can reduce the chances of erectile dysfunction occurring.

Therapy

If mental health problems are affecting your sexual performance, seeking help through therapy is a viable option. A therapist will be able to unravel any underlying concerns which might be triggering the mental health problem, and over time, your sexual performance will benefit as a result.

Prescribed Erectile Dysfunction Tablets

Erectile dysfunction tablets are one of the most popular, and quickest, solutions for erectile dysfunction. An oral erectile dysfunction tablet is taken roughly one hour before sex, and once in the system, can last for up to four hours!

The two most popular erectile dysfunction tablets go by the name of Sildenafil and Viagra. Both treatments are extremely similar and effectively enable more blood to flow to the penis during sexual stimulation. Sildenafil tablets and Viagra tablets are both available at Express Pharmacy and can be delivered to you in as little as one working day. It’s never been so easy to discreetly buy Viagra online.

If you have erectile dysfunction and would like to seek help, do not hesitate to contact our pharmaceutical experts on 0208 123 0703. Alternatively, browse our erectile dysfunction treatments today.

Infertility is most often thought of as a curse upon women; but as more studies are done, it is being found that men are struggling too.

One study estimates that nearly 72.4 million couples globally experience fertility problems.” Of these cases, “approximately 40–50% are due to “male factor” infertility and as many as 2% of all men will exhibit suboptimal sperm parameters.

One of the ways men struggle with infertility is caused by excessive heat. But it’s not just the heat of summer that affects men; scientists are starting to look at the myths and fabled wives’ tales surrounding the question of underwear – and whether choosing a specific type of underwear would help men improve their sexual health.

What is the Big Deal?

For a healthy and fertile male, there isn’t an issue. He can wear whichever one he would like. Unfortunately, for those who are struggling with fertility, the debate between boxers or briefs is not just an issue of comfort or support, but it is a specific concern for the health of their sperm.

Oxford Academic published a study looking at 656 men who were complaining of infertility. They found that “overall, more than 50 percent of the men said they usually wore boxers. These men had a 25 percent "higher sperm concentration," a 17 percent higher total sperm count, and 33 percent more swimming sperm than men who said they didn't usually wear boxers.”

Importantly, the greatest statistical difference in sperm quality was found between men who wore boxer shorts and men who wore jockeys or briefs.

In men, sperm are made within the testes. The testes, located within the scrotal sack, are located outside of the body — specifically away from the core heat of the body. Celia E. Dominguez, reproductive endocrinologist, Center for Reproductive Medicine at the Emory University School of Medicine says, “In order for testes to produce sufficient quality and quantity of sperm, the temperature of testes must be lower than the core body temperature.”

Another issue is the sperm’s life cycle. The body is continuously making sperm, and each sperm lives around 10-11 weeks inside the testes. If they get too hot and become damaged in the early growth cycle, they will still remain damaged the length of their life. This means that a man cannot just switch to boxers when he wants to father a child; he must protect the sperm all the time.

The Way to Keep Cool

The main goal is to keep the testes cool, and they need to be away from the core heat of the body. The best underwear choice is the loose, boxer-style underwear. This allows more air to flow into the crotch area, which in turn, keeps the area cooler. Note: Some men like the boxer-brief style. This style of underwear is typically not loose enough for most men. Your underwear should allow the scrotal sack to hang freely. Of course, there are times when men would prefer there to be less testicular movement – when playing sport, for instance – but there should always be ample time made for hanging around, so to speak.

It’s not just underwear that is an issue; tight (or heavy) clothing or an occupation that requires a man to sit for long periods of time can create havoc for the sperm. Don’t dismiss the idea of tight clothing — we’re not just talking about workout gear or riding a bike too much. The wrong clothing can be in the form of dress slacks or even heavy pants that construction workers wear. While you can’t go to work naked, try to dress in looser and lighter clothing that will keep you cooler.

Lastly, avoid sitting in hot water. Summertime may not be as tempting for the extended use of a hot tub, but in the cooler months, a long soak in a hot tub or a hot baths will raise the core temperature of the testes and possibly damage the sperm.

Conclusion

For some men, it can be a fashion choice. But for those who are struggling with infertility, your underwear does have an impact on your sexual health. So remember, anything that makes or keeps the scrotal area too hot, can harm the viability of your sperm. As you keep cool during these hot summer months, remember to keep your sperm cool too.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4691969/

https://academic.oup.com/humrep/article-abstract/33/9/1749/5066758?

https://www.webmd.com/infertility-and-reproduction/features/boxers-vs-briefs-increasing-sperm-count

https://www.healthline.com/health/mens-health/how-long-does-it-take-for-sperm-to-regenerate#takeaway