Healthwise
In recent times, there have been reports of men dying in controversial circumstances after sex, with allegations or suspicions that such sudden deaths might be due to ingestion of aphrodisiacs. TESSY IGOMU spoke with physicians and pharmacist on the issue
“If you want a man to eat anything, tell him it would boost his libido,” is a popular saying that goes to prove the premium men place on their virility.
It is a statement of fact that holds true for Segun Ogunjobi, a businessman, who can ingest just about anything to have a fulfilling romp in the hay with a woman.
Maintaining sexual potency is a concern that makes him to feel alive, vital and young. When it comes to sex, he doesn’t want to come across as a loser. And with this mindset, he swallows copious amounts of medications to maintain his sexual prowess.
Just like him, many Nigerian men now go the extra mile to give their masculinity a boost and keep the passion alive by taking aphrodisiacs —medications, food or drinks that stimulate sexual response or desire.
Lately, dangers posed by aphrodisiacs seem to have reached fever pitch, with several incidents resulting in shocking fatalities. And, as far as Dr. Daniel Ayira, a general practitioner in Ajao Estate, Lagos is concerned, users of aphrodisiacs are simply shopping for death.
“It’s like shooting yourself in the foot. They [aphrodisiacs] are a ticking time bomb, ticking away the users to doom,” he said.
The medical practitioner noted that many Nigerian men have been killed by sex-enhancing drugs because they were probably unaware of underlying medical conditions they might have had, such as high blood pressure or a weak heart.
“Once they take the drug, it enhances their metabolism or energises their body in preparation for sex, which is a very strenuous exercise. By the time they start, their already high blood pressure rises beyond normal and they eventually end up having a stroke or cardiac arrest on top of the woman. The unlucky ones just die.”
Recalling a trending social media video in which a 60-year-old man purportedly died during sex with a 22-year-old lady, Ayira said, “In the case of the man in the trending video, he didn’t suffer stroke immediately. If it had happened when they were in the act, he would have gasped for air and collapsed on top of her. Based on the narratives at the background, it happened afterwards and there was no struggle.”
The physician noted that use of aphrodisiacs is not peculiar to adults, saying teenagers also experiment with it. He said years of counselling young men with sexual problems had revealed a pattern that fuels the use of and addiction to sex-enhancing drugs.
“Young men take aphrodisiacs to last longer in bed. Most usually have quick ejaculation due to hyper excitability. And because they want to prolong the act of sex itself and delay ejaculation, they go for these sex-enhancing drugs.
Corroborating Ayira’s claim that young men also use aphrodisiacs, the Managing Director of Larry Way Pharmacy, Lagos, Mr. Lawrence Ekeh, a pharmacist, narrated an encounter he had with an angry father of a teenage aphrodisiac user.
“A curious father brought a packet of medication he found in the pocket of his 15-year-old son, and I had to inform him that it was an aphrodisiac.
“The middle-aged man was devastated to learn that his son had gone from being sexually active at such a young age to using libido-enhancing drug,” Ekeh narrated to our Correspondent.
“They unwittingly expose themselves to danger, as they can get over-exerted and die of pure exhaustion,” Ayira warned; noting that aphrodisiac users can experience priapism, which he described as a medical emergency that could lead to death or permanent damage to the penis.
According to Harvard Health Publishing Journal, priapism is a prolonged erection of the penis that may occur spontaneously or from certain antidepressants or erectile dysfunction drugs.
“Symptoms include an erection lasting more than four hours or off-and-on for several hours.
“The penis is usually painful or tender. Options include draining blood from the penis (aspiration) and medication to restriction of blood flow to the penis,” the journal stated.
Dr. Ayira further said that in some instances which he had seen, penis that has abnormalities can be gravely injured.
Aphrodisiac and rape
In what appears to be a more dangerous twist, he said, the use of aphrodisiacs emboldens and promotes rape culture.
In what appears to be a more dangerous twist, he said, the use of aphrodisiacs emboldens and promotes rape culture.
“Because these drugs are readily available, some men take them and will need a woman to be readily available for sex. In a situation where they can’t reach one, they will forcefully take anyone they see around. Therefore, incidents of rape keep rising.
“Sex enhancements endanger the most vulnerable among us — women and children.”
The expert noted that older men take aphrodisiacs to have stronger erection. He explained that as men age, their muscle starts getting weak and this factor impacts negatively on their ability to have or sustain erection.
“So, aphrodisiacs help to strengthen the penis muscles for a stronger erection,” he added. He, however, said aphrodisiacs, especially the brand, Viagra, were formulated for the treatment of erectile dysfunction — a condition characterised by persistent difficulty in achieving and sustaining erection sufficient to have sex,” he added.
Age and sex
The physicians noted that most men develop crises in their sex life when they get to middle age — a situation that can be worrisome for any man. “This happens especially when men hit 40. They start having erectile dysfunction and their sexual drive wanes or disappears totally. This makes men bitter and unhappy. So, there is pressure on the man to get it fixed at all costs.
The physicians noted that most men develop crises in their sex life when they get to middle age — a situation that can be worrisome for any man. “This happens especially when men hit 40. They start having erectile dysfunction and their sexual drive wanes or disappears totally. This makes men bitter and unhappy. So, there is pressure on the man to get it fixed at all costs.
“When Viagra was introduced, it became the best and fastest selling drug in that genre in the pharmaceutical industry. Later, other brands of sex-enhancing drugs came out and they had specific doses and conditions given by the manufacturers before usage.
“The rush for it was indicative of the fact that many men were battling with erectile dysfunction. Discussing such medical problem is like a taboo, because there is a perceived societal stigma associated with a sexually deficient man.”
He said there were other natural herbal aphrodisiac outside the orthodox medicine, which poses danger, as nobody has been able to determine their correct dosage.
“They are ingested based on guesswork and these are the ones that are likely to cause problems.
“The side effects of these drugs are not known. How they promote or enhance libido is not medically proven.
“The effects they have on other vital organs of the body are unknown. What is called drug-drug interaction is not known as well. So, there is likely to be problems.
“These are the ones medical personnel frown at because there are so many of them.
“There are safer alternatives for any man that wants to enhance his libido. And they come with conditions.
“You can’t be diabetic, hypertensive, suffer from heart failure and want to take aphrodisiac. You are going to die.”
Dr. Gabriel Omonaiye is a medical practitioner with years of experience in family medicine. He noted that aphrodisiacs have been in existence for ages and was also courted by early men.
He said psychologically, men equate sexual prowess with self-esteem and view inability to function sexually as a dent on their manliness.
He, however, noted that ignorance has led to increased demand for aphrodisiacs, noting that most men are not aware of the changes their bodies undergo as they age. He explained that as men age, the ability to have prolonged sex decreases and some might start experiencing erectile dysfunction.
Factors such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol level and inactivity, he stated, have led to upsurge in cases of erectile dysfunction in men; adding that this makes them to look for quick fix in aphrodisiacs.
“Some men are not aware that age or physiological factors can affect that aspect of their life. From the age of 40, the sex life of men declines, and they tend to look for ways to boost it.
“Anytime I have patients dealing with issues of low sexual performance at that age, I let them know it is a normal phenomenon. If men accept that having low libido is natural and that it comes with the aging process, they won’t be unduly worried and die unnecessarily.
“Surprisingly, even the most educated man gets so worried and craves to always be sexually active,” Omonaiye said.
Blaming the upsurge in the use of aphrodisiacs on societal expectations from men, the medical practitioner said the drive behind it all is the hunger to fit in as a “real man.” He also lamented that the tendency for men to desire to measure up to some perceived standard is a huge problem associated with the fad.
“Most men lie about their conquest and exaggerate their ability to last longer in bed. It is very easy for those referred to as ‘two-minute men’ to boast that they can last for two hours in bed with a woman. Of course, he can get away with such unsubstantiated claims because it is rare for two men to be present during a sexual act.
“The stupid ones will, however, go away with the impression that the character is a super stud and embark on a dangerous mission to match the two hours by experimenting with several sex-enhancing drugs. Some randy men also use aphrodisiac to sustain their promiscuous lifestyle,” Omonaiye said.
The physician also blamed the rising use of aphrodisiacs on the influence of internet and pornography. “People watch adult movie and want to be like the actors, without realising that the scenes are make-belief.”
Highlighting the health implications of taking aphrodisiacs, the medical practitioner said most people are unaware of their health status. He noted that some men that have never exercised in their life take sex-enhancing drugs and, in most cases, above the recommended dosage. “Of course, with this, you know danger lurks,” he said.
“Added to this is the consumption of alcohol, which also causes erectile dysfunction. What do you think will happen to a hypertensive man, with high cholesterol level and weakened heart, wanting to go on several rounds of sex? Virtually anything could happen,” he warned.
The expert said another dangerous practice is that people combine various brands to get maximum impact, noting that the most dangerous are the locally made herbal mixtures that have infiltrated the country.
He said, “The danger in it is that nobody knows their composition. Some will use this local mixture alongside the orthodox drug. The fact that it is desirable to have a satisfactory sex life doesn’t mean anyone should die.
“No one wins a trophy by being sexually active. Sex is not meant to be a marathon.”
Dr. Omonaiye said, ideally, men should seek medical advice before using sex-enhancing drugs, stressing that aphrodisiacs should, ordinarily, not be easily accessed without a doctor’s prescription.
The expert called for strict control over production, distribution and sales of every type of aphrodisiac by relevant authorities. “There is an urgent need for the government to embark on sensitization campaigns that will focus on the dangers these aphrodisiacs portend to promising young men and the elderly,” he said.
Mr. Ekeh, a pharmacist, said he was saddened by the “disturbing trend.” “For some men, it is a show of their masculine strength or virility. Most men want to prove that they are in charge and can satisfy their partner’s sexual desire. Sadly, in doing this, some forget that age is no longer on their side or that they have underlying health conditions to deal with.”
Corroborating Omonaiye’s earlier stance attributing rise in use of aphrodisiacs to pornography, the pharmacist said it was worrisome that adult movies have become a norm among young and old men.
“What spiked the craze for these sex-enhancing drugs is the need to fit into today’s evolving modern way of living, which exposes them to various vices on the internet. Our men have become lost in that make-belief world and fantasize, forgetting that the characters are just acting out their scripts. The male actors can go on and on, all in the guise of satisfying the female. Sadly, our people have translated it into real life.
“After watching these movies, some women become aroused and want to attain orgasm at all costs. Bent on satisfying their women and not having that natural stamina anymore, some men resort to sex enhancers.”
Ekeh, who is also a counsellor, said principally, aphrodisiacs have two broad classes of actives used to manage erectile dysfunction, while there are also other types that are under the class of tricyclic antidepressants.
“Others are a lytic cocktail of unknown actives; yet there are those said to be organic or herbal.
“The danger in using aphrodisiac lies in the fact that it can kill without warning. It can lead to cardiac arrest, as the heart is unduly exerted,” he declared.
“Most men that take these drugs don’t even know they have underlying health condition that predisposes them to danger. Any man that has blood pressure issues should stay away from aphrodisiacs.
“This is why hypertensive patients are usually advised to see a physician before exercising. The check will reveal if their heart can withstand rigorous activities.
“Sex is a very rigorous exercise and any man who is hypertensive and uses aphrodisiac is likely to die through a heart attack. These drugs are hard on the heart.”
Another General Practitioner, Dr. Edward Chukwurah, said “some men have foolishly chosen the worst way to die,” wondering why the craze to satisfy a woman in bed should be the only thought occupying “the head of a responsible man.”
“There is a price of medical emergency or death. Some people go about boasting about their prowess in bed. Those selling and promoting these drugs will also claim a user can last through the night.
“Yet, erection, which is the rush of blood into the vessels in the penis, is not meant to be for a very long time. The penis must come down after a while.
“But here, people take all manner of drugs and have a prolonged erection that leads to medical emergencies. Most people are hypertensive and have never been to the hospital for a check. This category might just hear an ordinary gunshot and die from shock without getting hit by a bullet.
“Some just take these strange drugs because their friends are hooked on them and it ends up adversely affecting their physiology. This is the same way people take drugs to enlarge their penis, breasts and buttocks, and end up traumatising their blood vessels and other vital organs.
He, however, maintained that it is both a medical and social problem, stressing that people must be enlightened about the dangers in consuming unwholesome drugs.
“Even the common Paracetamol has its own side effect – the liver is punished. It is sad every male wants to play the superman. It is a big problem,” he enthused.
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All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: health_wise@punchng.com
