Dear Ate Anna,

Lately, I have been having some trouble pleasing my wife in the bedroom. I am too embarrassed to see a doctor. My friend was kind enough to offer his magic blue pills to me. He buys them from the Internet. Ate Anna, should I give it a try?

Kevin

Dear Kevin,

Ate Anna believes that you are concerned about your sexual functioning. The magic blue pills you are referring to are Viagra.

Sexual arousal is a complex process that involves physical and emotional factors. It is not unusual for men to experience some difficulty maintaining an erection during sex from time to time. This can be due to stress, anxiety, fatigue or relationship problems. However, if this is an ongoing problem, it is important to see a doctor to find out the cause of the erectile dysfunction. If ignored, it can cause stress in the relationship, loss of self-esteem, self-confidence and an unsatisfactory sex life.

Erectile dysfunction is one of those health topics that many men want to know about. But some men are afraid to ask questions because they worry about their masculinity – “real” men are not supposed to have problems in this area. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a medical condition – the inability to get and keep an erection firm enough for sex. For an erection to happen, blood needs to flow to the penis. However, if not enough blood gets “trapped” in the blood vessels of the penis, it will not get hard or erect. What people often do not realize is that difficulty with erections can be an indication of an underlying health problem.

Many medical experts say, “For men, the penis is the window to the heart.” The blood vessels in the penis are exactly the same as the blood vessels in the heart. So, if a man has erectile dysfunction, he most likely has some problem with his heart or other related health problems. Some of the most common causes of erectile dysfunction are heart disease, clogged blood vessels, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and smoking.

Kevin, even though you may find it embarrassing, it is important to see a doctor for your condition. The doctor will do a physical examination and some tests on you to check if there are other underlying health problems that have caused the ED. These health problems need to be treated. The doctor will recommend appropriate treatments for you, which may also include prescribing oral ED medication such as Viagra, Cialis or Levitra. The ED drug is to help increase blood flow to the penis.

Kevin, it may be tempting for you to try those “magic blue pills” offered by your friend. Ate Anna strongly suggests you decline his offer. Never use someone else’s medication! It can be dangerous. Remember, like any drugs, ED drugs are medicine and all medicines can have side effects. These ED drugs come in different dosages and strengths. You may not know what dosage is right for you.

Most important, you do not know if this drug is safe for you or even helpful for your situation. In fact, not every man can take this medication. Men who have suffered from a heart attack or stroke, or who have an irregular heart rate, high or low blood pressure, and those who are on medication for chest pain should not take this medication. You must consult a doctor first before taking any ED medication.

Ate Anna also gives a word of caution about buying ED drugs on line. There are many advertisements on the Internet promoting discount Viagra or other ED drugs. Viagra is one of the most common products promoted by scammers on the Internet. Kevin, there is a good possibility that these ED drugs are fake or ineffective, and can be harmful to you as you do not know what ingredients have been put in them. Always avoid pharmacies that sell Viagra or ED drugs with no prescription needed. If, however, on line purchase is preferred, only go to a trustworthy on line pharmacy that has an official verification license.

There are young men who don’t have erectile problems but they take Viagra along with other recreational drugs, thinking that ED drugs can enhance their sexual performance. As mentioned earlier, these drugs have side effects and can damage the sex organ if used inappropriately. One common side effect for these young men is that they get an erection that lasts for many hours. These prolonged erections can cause severe pain, damage the blood vessels in the penis and can cause a permanent inability to have an erection.

Kevin, don’t wait. Go and see a doctor soon about the recent changes in your sexual functioning. The longer you ignore this problem, the more frustrated and unhappy both you and your wife will become. Don’t ignore this important aspect of your relationship.

All the best!
Ate Anna

Ate Anna welcomes your questions and comments. Please write to: Ate Anna, Suite 200 – 226 Osborne Street N., Winnipeg, MB R3C 1V4 or e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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