How Viagra can hurt your relationship, Best Health Magazine Canada



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How Viagra can hurt your relationship.
The little blue pill turned 10 this year. And in the decade since Viagra (sildenafil citrate) hit the shelves, and other medications, including Cialis (tadalafil) and Levitra (vardenafil), joined the ranks, they’ve caused a sexu-pharmaceutical revolution by offering men who have erectile dysfunction (ED) a chance to get busy between the sheets.
These medications relax the muscles in the penis, allowing for greater blood flow, which, upon arousal, produces an erection. Men who are impotent can take a pill and have their masculinity restored’practically before their eyes. But while these drugs may bring back sexual function, experts warn they can create other issues in a relationship.
Here are a few of the problems that can, um, pop up’and some solutions:
Sex therapist Heide McConkey says she has treated a number of couples who have found these medications to be anything but helpful. ‘ A lot of men take Viagra without consulting their partners ,’ explains McConkey, ‘and this creates trust issues. The couples that have the problems are the ones where the woman has been left out of the equation.’
Men who haven’t talked with their partner about using medication may find she’s resistant. There might be fear with regard to becoming intimate again and about the drug. In fact, a study by New Zealand’s University of Canterbury found that women surveyed (age 33-68) had a number of concerns about their partner taking ED drugs, ranging from the loss of spontaneity to the suspected infidelity they feared might result.
Some women whose partner is taking these medications find the pressure is just too much. With each pill costing approximately $11, many men feel the need to ‘get their money’s worth’ by having sex multiple times in a short period. This increased frequency can be physically and emotionally trying for their partner.
According to sex therapists, the couples who have success using these pills are the ones who discuss the impact that renewed sexual vigour might have on the way they interact.
Make sure the reintroduction of sex is collaborative and slow. Extreme intimacy can be a major change for a couple if they haven’t been sexual for a while. It’s not like getting back on a bike’it takes time. And, often, libidos have become mismatched. For example, a woman may have developed a different perspective on intimacy: She may be happy with companionship and affection, and no longer feel a need for sex.
Contrary to popular perception, t hese medications are not aphrodisiacs, so fears that a partner will become promis­cuous simply because he has popped a pill are unfounded. The ability to have an erection isn’t necessarily going to make someone become sex-crazed and driven into having an affair. In other words, a pill is not responsible for a moral choice: If men stray, it’s usually because of relationship problems.
As long as it’s a shared adventure, taking medication to improve your sex life doesn’t need to have a downside. It’s a joint decision’one that’s not just about his penis, but about your relationship. And if both partners do agree to go for it (after the mandatory okay from the doctor), it can certainly have an upside. Which is definitely the point.
Related content:
What erectile dysfunction says about his health Erectile dysfunction could signal an underlying health problem Posted in Health After an affair: The do’s and don’ts Expert advice for how to deal when your partner has had an affair Posted in Relationships Your questions on sex, love and relationships answered Sex expert and psychologist Cheryl Fraser shares her answers to all your intimate questions about sex and how to have healthy relationships Posted in Relationships.
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