Study: Viagra, Cialis, Levitra Drugs May Promote Sexual Pleasure

According to a recent study, published at the Journal of Physiology, Sildenafil (Viagra), vardenafil (Levitra) and tadalafil (Cialis) erectile dysfunction drugs may enhance sexual pleasure in addition to their well-known effect on sexual performance.

Viagra (sildenafil), Levitra (vardenafil), and Cialis (tadafil) treat erectile function by enhancing blood flow to the penis. They are classified as sexual stimulants, not aphrodisiacs, in that they improve sexual function but are not known to affect arousal.

However, the researchers indicated that these erectile dysfunction drugs play a key role (indirectly) in regulating release of oxytocin. This may be a key in understanding additional effects that these drugs may have on patient users.

Although the study was made on rats, results seem to show that sildenafil (Viagra) and its analogues seem to stimulate the release of oxytocin. This hormone is released by the neurohypophysis, or posterior pituitary, during orgasm.

Erectile dysfunction (ED or impotence) is a dysfunction characterized by the inability to develop or maintain an erection of the penis. Many underlying causes can be named for ED and many of those causes are medically treatable.

Many "treatments," both medically approved and non-approved, have been suggested for ED. Since the 1930's many folks have taken advantage of a highly devastating psychological sexual condition to push consumer to buy or try different treatments. Options on this are countless. However, the effectiveness of such so-called treatments for ED has not been proved.

Controversial and unapproved treatments include naltrexone, bremelatonine, melanotan II, hMaxiK, Gingseng, Ezyte, herbal treatment, and Prelox.

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases are a group of chemical compounds that effectively have an effect on ED. One of the forms of phophodiesterase is termed PDE5. The prescription PDE5 inhibitors sildenafil (Viagra), vardenafil (Levitra) and tadalafil (Cialis) are prescription drugs that are taken orally. They work by blocking the action of PDE5, allowing the penis to fill with blood.