Viagra is a medication primarily used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. Its active ingredient, Sildenafil, increases the blood flow to the penis, enabling an erection.
Viagra acts by relaxing the muscle cells in the blood vessels supplying the penis. This process allows an increased blood flow, which is essential for an erection to occur. Normally, blood flow to the penis is regulated by an enzyme called PDE5, which works to reduce blood flow, making the penis flaccid. Viagra acts by inhibiting this enzyme, thereby increasing blood flow.
Men can begin to experience the effects of Viagra as quickly as 12 minutes after taking a dose. The medication helps in both achieving and maintaining an erection. Viagra helps to maintain the erection even after ejaculation and reduces the refractory time before a second erection can be obtained.
With Viagra, men can expect firmer and more rigid erections. An increase in the dose of Viagra from 50 mg to 100 mg can result in a higher proportion of completely hard and fully rigid erections.
While Viagra aids in achieving firmer erections, it can also lead to a risk of priapism, a condition characterized by a prolonged and painful erection. This is a rare side effect, but if it occurs, it requires immediate professional medical attention.
While Viagra facilitates an increased blood flow to the penis, sexual desire and stimulation - both mental and physical - are still required for an erection to occur.
The medication does not directly impact sexual desire or arousal.
Viagra is primarily a facilitator - it aids in achieving and maintaining an erection but does not directly affect sexual desire. It works in response to sexual stimulation but does not instigate it.
The effects of Viagra are temporary. Viagra does not result in a permanently hard or enlarged penis. Instead, it aids in achieving erections for a specified period post-consumption.
Typically, the effects of Viagra can last between 4 to 8 hours, depending on the individual and the dosage taken. Some men may experience more than one erection during this time. Even after 10 hours, men could still get an erection, finding it just as easy as it was two hours after taking Viagra.
In some cases, the effectiveness of Viagra can extend beyond the typical 4-8 hour window. Scientists found that even after 10 hours, men still could achieve an erection, with the ease of achieving it remaining consistent as it was two hours post-consumption.