Can Viagra Cause Infertility? Unraveling The Facts And Myths

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Men all over the world use recreational drugs for better performance, but is Viagra safe for everyone? Can Viagra Cause Infertility? These questions might come to mind if you think about it hard enough when that happens, there are things you should be aware of.

As people use Viagra worldwide, which is available over the counter, it can be taken safely before intercourse. 

However, some researchers might argue against the matter and say that it might affect your fertility in the long term. Clearing the facts, it’s time to know about its function, effects, and possible side effects on your body, so read this article before you use Viagra

How Does Viagra Work In The Human Body?

One of the main content of Viagra, or any other erectile dysfunction medication, is PDE5, which is effective in increasing blood flow in your reproductive organs.

When you take Viagra, it starts to increase the blood flow in the penis and produces an erection. Usually, people with erectile dysfunction take this medication to help conceive a child in their family.

Generally, after an hour of intake, viagra gets fully dissolved in your blood and starts to show its effects, which you might be aware of. It simply pumps the blood vessels in your reproductive organ, making the blood flow more freely and giving an erection to the male.

Can Viagra Affect Male Fertility?

Mainly, people with erectile dysfunction take Viagra, so it is considered safe for people who have those issues.

However, viagra is usually safe for others as well, and people do take it for better intercourse, which is a fact. There can be some mild side effects of taking Viagra, but not everyone faces them, as it depends on your heart or kidney health.

Researchers’ Beliefs About Viagra?

Most of the research has proved Viagra to be safe for men and has very less to known effects on male fertility. However, according to Observers Medical research, taking Viagra if you are young can affect your fertility in the long term.

Researchers have claimed that youngsters who take anti-impotence drugs without any issues may impair their capability to father children in the future. 

The Glenn research was based on an experiment taking two samples of male sperm and bath one of them in Viagra. This led to the conclusion that the Viagra-bathed sperm samples became more active, but their acrosomes got weaker.

An acrosome is a cap-like structure in a sperm, which leads it to enter into a female egg.  So, taking Viagra might not affect you directly by lowering your sperm count, but it might make them incapable of fertilizing a female egg.

Who Should Stay Away From Viagra?

When taking Viagra, the most important thing to keep in mind is that if you have any form of cardiovascular condition or not.

So, when you take Viagra, after a couple of hours, your blood pressure starts to drop, which can affect your heartbeat. This irregularity in your heartbeat only happens if you have an underlying heart condition and can lead to strokes and heart attacks.

Another thing to be aware of when you are taking Viagra is if you have any type of liver issues like NAFLD or a past history of related diseases. So, if you have any of these conditions, it’s the best option for you to stay clear of Viagra at all costs.

Can Women Use It?

As peculiar as it sounds, there are actually no reports or proof related to Viagra usage in women. Usually, viagra is only approved for males and is effective on the male reproductive system.

However, there have been some studies that show that Viagra can stimulate women’s genitalia and make intercourse better.

Can Viagra Affect Male Fertility

This leads to the fact that people should only be using medications which is designed for them. Even if Viagra shows some effects in women, they shouldn’t be using it, as it can lead to health issues in the future related to their heart and liver.

Safe Administration Of Viagra

After all the details on Viagra, another main thing is how to take Viagra, see results, and not harm yourself all at the same time. When it comes to safe administration of Viagra in males, if you are taking it for the first time, make sure you are not taking more than 50 mg of it. And, if you have any type of health issue, make sure you’re consulting your doctor before you take any recreational drug.

If you are consulting a doctor for a Viagra intake, they will most likely prescribe you 25 mg or less for optimal results and low side effects on your body. So follow your doctor’s advice and take Viagra in only the prescribed amount and administer it safely.

Other Possible Side Effects Of Taking Viagra

As we know, Viagra causes inflation in your blood vessels, and taking it can affect your blood flow and oxygen supply temporarily. This sudden change of dynamics in your body might lead to some mild side effects like nausea, flushing, or headache. Sometimes, it can cause a runny nose, insomnia, back pain, and even cause stomach problems.

Usually, these side effects are temporary and only last for a couple of hours to a day at the very most. Make sure you are taking the recreational drug in a prescribed amount to prevent priapism.

This is a condition caused by those people who take excess Viagra at the same time and can cause them excessive and painful erections for hours.

The Wrap Up

Viagra is one of the most sold and used recreational drugs in the world, as it helps many solve their issues. However, that doesn’t make it safe to misuse and take it regularly, and according to Glenn’s research, Viagra also has been proven to weaken your sperm and can make you infertile.

Anyway, using any type of medication is a matter of individuality, so make wise decisions considering your health and fertility.

A small quick tip at the end: Don’t take Viagra with alcohol.

References

  • J. Aldridge, F. Measham Sildenafil (Viagra) is used as a recreational drug in England BMJ, 318 (1999), p. 669 CrossRef
  • K.A. McKinney, S.E. Lewis, W. Thompson Persistent effects of pentoxifylline on human sperm motility, after drug removal, in normozoospermic and asthenozoospermic individuals Andrologia, 26 (1994), pp. 235-240 View in Scopus

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Dr. David G Kiely is a distinguished Medical Reviewer and former General Medicine Consultant with a wealth of experience in the field. Dr. Kiely's notable career as a General Medicine Consultant highlights his significant contributions to the medical field.

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