Does Viagra Make You Last Longer in Bed?
Because brand name Viagra®, also known as sildenafil citrate, is thought of as a “cure-all” for sex ailments (but mostly for erectile dysfunction), many men turn to it as a solution to the oldest problem: how to last long in bed.
But does Viagra make you last longer in bed? Viagra can definitely make you last longer in bed if you’re struggling to keep an erection. And research also suggests it might be beneficial for the management of premature ejaculation (PE), even though it isn’t specifically FDA approved for that purpose.
Want to see what the science says? Below, we’ve explored the evidence for and against sildenafil citrate for boosting sexual stamina, and shared other science-backed options for improving your sexual stamina and performance.
Can Viagra Help You Last Longer?
Will Viagra make you last longer? Some reports actually suggest that Viagra for premature ejaculation might actually be an effective treatment.
Viagra (sildenafil citrate) is a type of erectile dysfunction medication called a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor. PDE5 inhibitors such as Viagra, Cialis® (tadalafil) and Levitra® (vardenafil) are designed to treat ED by increasing blood flow to the soft erectile tissues and blood vessels of your penis.
The effects of these erectile dysfunction medications can help you get an erection or maintain a firmer erection to improve the sexual experience for you and your partner.
On average, Viagra lasts for up to four hours after you take your dose. So, if you tend to lose your erection during sex, Viagra’s effects could help you have sex for longer without being affected by erectile dysfunction during that period of time.
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Why Viagra Could Help with PE
Does sildenafil make you last longer? There are a few interesting studies about Viagra’s effects on sexual dysfunction that are worth mentioning:
In a small 2007 study published in the International Journal of Urology: Official Journal of the Japanese Urological Association, researchers found that sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra) was linked to an increase in ejaculation time in men affected by premature ejaculation.
Another study from 2005 published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine found that men who used sildenafil experienced a small increase in time before ejaculation. The increase compared to placebo wasn’t statistically significant, but men did have increased perception of ejaculatory control and overall sexual satisfaction.
According to a clinical study published in the International Journal of Impotence Research, sildenafil can reduce refractory time by several minutes. In this study, the average reduction in time was about nine minutes.
So, how does Viagra possibly help with PE? There are a number of potential ways. These include its effects on the nervous system and the sensitivity of the penis, its effects on smooth muscles involved in ejaculation, and the fact that it can increase confidence — especially in those who have both PE and ED.
Why Viagra Is Not an FDA-Approved Treatment for Premature Ejaculation
The reason Viagra isn’t an FDA-approved treatment to help you last longer in bed gets into a complex issue of the time and cost of running clinical trials and applying for FDA approval. It’s possible that if these trials were done, sildenafil — the active ingredient in Viagra — could be shown to be safe and effective for PE. It’s also possible that wouldn’t be the case. We will probably never know. Viagra is already commercially available because of its approval for ED, and providers can already prescribe Viagra off-label to treat PE. So we’ll likely just need to rely on studies like those mentioned above to know how effective it can be for the condition.
Things Viagra can’t do, though, include boost your sex drive, prevent you from getting tired, reduce performance anxiety or make your penis larger than normal — that’s not what Viagra does.
The Risks of Using Viagra to Last Longer
And then there are the side effects of Viagra — headaches and blurred vision, and potentially dangerous interactions with other drugs.
You’ll need to tell a healthcare professional if you currently have any medical condition or are treating heart disease or hypertension, and you’ll want to avoid medications for high blood pressure like nitrates, alpha-blockers and others that could cause low blood pressure when combined with Viagra.
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How to Treat Premature Ejaculation and Last Longer in Bed
Does Viagra help with premature ejaculation? Maybe! But it’s best you discuss all of your options with a healthcare provider to see what’s best for you.
There are other options available for PE that can help you delay ejaculation and last longer in bed, including:
Premature ejaculation sprays, wipes and creams
SSRI antidepressants
Non-medicinal techniques for reducing sexual stimulation
So, let’s dig a little deeper into these.
Premature Ejaculation Sprays, Wipes and Creams
Studies show that lidocaine-containing sprays are extremely effective as treatments for premature ejaculation by reducing sensitivity.
In a 2003 study published in the International Journal of Impotence Research, men with PE were able to increase their ejaculation latency from one minute and 24 seconds to 11 minutes and 21 seconds after applying a lidocaine-prilocaine-based spray.
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We offer an OTC delay spray, delivered right to your door, if you want to give this PE treatment a shot.
Medicated wipes and creams that contain ingredients like lidocaine, prilocaine, and benzocaine are also available OTC and can be used to reduce the sensitivity of the penis.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
One of the main side effects of certain selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) — such as paroxetine and sertraline — is something called “anorgasmia,” or the inability to achieve orgasm.
When treating PE, this “bug” is actually a feature. A feature which has prompted healthcare professionals all over the world to prescribe SSRIs off-label to treat this common sexual dysfunction.
Sertraline (the active ingredient in Zoloft®) is one of several SSRIs used to treat PE and improve sexual performance. According to a study published in the journal, Medicine, sertraline is effective at prolonging ejaculation latency time and improving rates of sexual satisfaction between patients and their partners.
Additionally, a 2007 study published in the journal Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management found that men with premature ejaculation who used paroxetine, fluoxetine or escitalopram experienced a useful effect on ejaculation time.
Non-Pharmaceutical Treatments
Managing PE might not require any medications, of course. Instead, you might simply have to exert some self-control — or some self-love.
Beyond medications such as sildenafil, lidocaine and sertraline, there are several ways to increase your time before ejaculation and improve your sexual performance without using drugs.
These include techniques like:
The stop-start technique. It’s 100 percent a medical fact that if you stop before finishing, you can start again and still keep the clock running on your session.
The squeeze technique. Before you finish, pull out and squeeze the tip of your penis to reduce your urge to ejaculate before returning to activity.
Distracting thoughts. Thinking about something to momentarily take your head out of the game — baseball, cold showers, geometry, the weather, etc. — may actually help distract you long enough to overcome your urge to climax. We wouldn’t ordinarily suggest not keeping your eyes on the prize, but for PE, it could prove helpful.
Kegels. These not-just-for-women exercises can increase your muscle control, which could lead to longer performance windows.
Masturbating before sex. This is a pretty solid pro-tip. While there’s not much scientific research out there to corroborate the claim here, many men find that masturbating a few hours before sex helps them stay in the game a little longer.
Getting into therapy. Another simple solution? Talking. If you’re experiencing PE as a result of sexual performance anxiety, talking about it with a professional might help. Not only will they be able to help you talk through some of your experiences, but they may also be able to make some helpful suggestions.
Our guide to stopping premature ejaculation covers these approaches in more detail, with scientific data to back up each treatment option.
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Viagra and Medicine for Lasting Longer in Bed
Today, a variety of options are available for premature ejaculation, ranging from SSRIs to lidocaine-based premature ejaculation spray to techniques like the stop-start strategy, the squeeze technique and masturbating before sex.
Then, there’s Viagra. Although the "little blue pill" is designed and marketed as a treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED), a dose of Viagra can also be prescribed off label to help men last longer in bed.
Consider the following points about premature ejaculation:
Does Viagra make you last longer in bed? It might, but the question could use more research, and Viagra and other ED medications represent just some of several options to consider for PE.
Does Viagra increase your libido? Unfortunately, no. It also won’t prevent performance anxiety or make your penis larger.
If you’re having trouble lasting for an extended period of time, talk to a healthcare professional about premature ejaculation treatment options, including Viagra, SSRIs and delay spray.
Want to do more? We can help connect you to a healthcare professional to talk about sertraline for PE and paroxetine for PE.
You can also learn about the differences between Viagra and Cialis, your options for premature ejaculation pills and the available premature ejaculation treatments.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment or medication.