Sex-enhancing drugs may trigger heart diseases – Gynaecologist

A consultant gynaecologist, Dr Ayodele Ademola, has advised people with erection and potency problems to seek medical attention rather than use sex enhancement drugs.

According to him, taking sex-enhancing drugs can cause heart diseases.

Ademola, also the Medical Director, StrongTower Hospital and Advanced Fertility Centre, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos on Monday

He spoke in commemoration of the 2023 World Sexual Health Day (WSHD) with the theme: “Consent”.

WSHD is held annually on Sept. 4 to celebrate every person’s right to sexual well-being.

The gynaecologist said that usage of sex enhancement drugs could cause cardiovascular diseases like hypertension, heart failure and other related diseases.

NAN reports that sex enhancement drugs, also known as Erectile Dysfunction Medication, are majorly patronised and used by men more than the women counterparts.

He, however, said that usage of sex enhancement drugs had positive and negative implications on human health but the negative implications of the drugs far outweigh its benefits.

He said it was not advisable to use sex enhancement drugs except when it became exceptionally necessary and should be used under strict medical prescription and supervision.

”There are many instances where people who used sex enhancement drugs end up losing their lives.

“I have had a situation where two elderly couples who took sex enhancement drugs simultaneously had a heart attack and died.

“Also, a young man of about 45 years of age, who took an overdose of tramadol with the aim to enhance his sex performance, died in the course of having sexual intercourse.

“If anyone has a potency problem, it is advisable that such a person seek medical attention rather than use enhancement drugs. This is because it has many underlying side effects which may result in loss of life,” he said.

Ademola, therefore, advised people who have erection problems to seek medical attention for proper diagnosis and treatment.

He noted hypertensive, diabetic and aged people were at higher risk to the usage of sex enhancement drugs, stressing that they should completely avoid using it because they might die in the process.

”Some people take excessive amounts of drugs in order to enhance sexual performance but most of the drugs sometimes are not specifically made for potency improvement,” Ademola said.

He decried the use of tramadol, intake of excessive alcohol, over-the-counter enhancement drugs and other toxicants to boost sexual drive, saying that such acts were typical drug abuse and could result in more harm than good.

He added that some health implications of over-the-counter male enhancement drugs included; damage to the urethra, permanent and difficulty maintaining an erection.

Others are permanent problems with urination, penis “fractures” causing bleeding and requiring surgery as well as drop in blood pressure.