What are Aphrodisiacs?
Discussions around sex often gain more attention from people than other topics. This may be due to its sensitivity and inherent connection to humans.
Recently, the trending topic on social media has been centred on aphrodisiacs (Sex stimulants) and other substances that can help people improve their sexual lives.
Certain individuals on social media who parade themselves as medical experts often suggest to people the kind of drugs or substances to take to drive sexual pleasure. In return, people tend to believe them without second guessing. An instance can be seen here and here.
Aphrodisiacs, also called sex enhancing-drugs, are substances that arouse or are held to arouse sexual desire. They are used for various purposes, such as sex stimulation or treatment of erectile dysfunction.
The need to increase sexual arousal, sexual pleasure and sexual potency often prompts people to use substances or drugs to achieve their sexual desires.
However, aphrodisiac use has been linked to certain health risks, such as cardiovascular diseases like hypertension, heart failure, headache, reduced erection, and other related diseases. It is more dangerous to the health when it is abused or misused.
In a study that examined the indiscriminate use of sex-enhancing products among Ghanaians in 2011, out of the 224 sampled populations, 61 per cent of males and 46 percent of females said they used sex-enhancing drugs.
A similar study by Adamu H et al. on the prevalence of the use of aphrodisiacs in Sokoto, Nigeria, in 2022 revealed that 67.6% of the 207 sampled population have used aphrodisiacs in their lifetime while 46.2% have used some form of aphrodisiacs within the last month of the study.
In the two referenced studies above, respondents explained that they either use sex-enhancing drugs for sexual pleasure or to cure erectile dysfunction. Either way, users often recorded side effects after use.
Health Risks of Using Aphrodisiacs
The use of aphrodisiacs to stimulate sexual drive has been linked to several health risks that may cause adverse health conditions. The following are some of the associated health risks of aphrodisiacs:
- Dependence and addiction can occur when individuals believe they require aphrodisiacs to fulfil sexual encounters, leading to psychological reliance.
- Aphrodisiacs can interact with existing medications, posing risks to one’s health. Consulting a healthcare provider before using aphrodisiacs, particularly if you are taking other medications, is essential to avoid potential complications.
- Aphrodisiacs, particularly those containing herbal or pharmaceutical ingredients, may result in side effects like nausea, headaches, dizziness, and digestive issues.
- Sex-enhancing substances can also lead to prolonged erection in men.
What do experts say?
In an article on Scripps, Luigi Simone, a primary care physician at Scripps Clinic, asserted that “Most drugs for sex enhancement have not been studied scientifically. They may have a placebo effect, which is not insignificant, but as far as the claims of increasing libido or sexual endurance, those have definitely not been proven.”
The article elaborated on the potential risks associated with sex-enhancing drugs, whether used to increase sexual function or to treat erectile dysfunction. Sex-enhancing drugs may have adverse effects, trigger allergies, or interact negatively with other medications due to their ingredients.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, Ayodele Ademola, a Consultant Gynaecologist, said the use of sex-enhancement drugs should be approached with caution and should be only used under exceptional circumstances and strictly administered under medical prescription and supervision.
“If anyone has potency problem, it is advisable that such person seeks medical attention, rather than using enhancement drugs because it has many underlying side effects which may result to complete loss of life,” Mr Ayodele said.
We spoke with a medical doctor, Jeffrey Ajoko, about the health risks of aphrodisiacs on users, and he explained that aphrodisiacs give immediate benefits but can affect erectile functions in men in the long run.
“Aphrodisiacs are generally natural. Still, when abused, they can affect the liver. For instance, when Sildenafil (a sex stimulant) are used to stimulate sex, the blood vessel is filled up in the process, and the blood may be trapped, which could lead to Ischemia,” Mr Ajoko said.“
Conclusion:
Aphrodisiacs are best used when a medical practitioner prescribes them. Individuals who indulge in sex stimulants of any form without a doctor’s direction may stand the risk of adverse health conditions.
This fact-check was produced as part of the DUBAWA 2024 Kwame KariKari Fellowship in partnership with Dataphyte to enrich the ethos of “truth” in Journalism and enhance media and information literacy in the country.