Scientists have discovered that building muscle could serve as a natural alternative to Viagra.
A team of researchers from the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, went about exploring the link between muscle quality and erectile dysfunction (ED), suffered by more than 18million men in the US over the age of 20.
ED includes the inability to get an erection or the inability to maintain one.
One of the most common medications for erectile dysfunction are phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors, such as sildenafil (Viagra).
But these drugs often trigger a range of side effects including headaches, feeling sick, indigestion and dizziness.
They are also expensive, costing $65 to $140 per tablet for brand-name Viagra and $4 to $10 per tablet for generic sildenafil.
In the new study, researchers looked at 32 previous studies linking men’s muscular strength to sexual function.
They found that cross-sectional studies using testing metrics such as muscle volume and hand-grip strength (HGS) showed strong correlations between muscle parameters and erectile function, sexual desire, and overall sexual satisfaction.
After looking at the evidence, the research team concluded that there is a positive correlation between erectile function and muscle health.
They explained: ‘Maintaining skeletal muscle with nutrition and physical activity improves erectile and overall health outcomes.
‘Therapies that target sexual function and muscle health simultaneously (eg, testosterone and L-carnitine) may further benefit sexual function.
‘Future studies are warranted to strengthen and elucidate this relationship and to follow the longitudinal outcomes of these therapies on sexual health.’
The link between erectile dysfunction and exercise isn’t new.
‘We published a paper about a year and a half ago, showing that exercise significantly reverses erectile dysfunction,’ study co-author Dr Mohit Khera told Men’s Health.
Exercise can play a significant role in improving erectile dysfunction by positively impacting several key areas.
Regular physical activity can improve blood flow, reduce inflammation, manage weight, and address psychological factors, all of which contribute to erectile function.
Dr Khera added: ‘While higher testosterone levels from strength training may play a minor role, the primary benefits are derived from improved vascular health.’
His past research found that 160 minutes of exercise a week, including strength training, significantly improved erectile function in men.
‘Notably, those with the most severe erectile dysfunction experienced the greatest improvements through regular exercise,’ he says.
Along with working out, the researchers found diet can also play a role in erectile dysfunction.
The study found L-carnitine, an amino acid found in red meat, poultry, and fish, may help work as a remedy for ED, too.
Erectile dysfunction is very common and often affects men over 40 years old.
In the US, more than 3.5 million prescriptions for sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra) were filled in 2022.
Most men struggle to get or keep an erection at some point. This can be caused by stress, fatigue or drinking too much alcohol.
However, if it is a frequent occurrence, it may be a result of high blood pressure or cholesterol, diabetes, depression or anxiety and hormones problems, and is something that can be discussed with a healthcare provider.
Drugs on the market for ED include Viagra, which is part of a drug class called PDE5 inhibitors.
They work by blocking an enzyme that restricts blood flow to the penis, by blocking it, the normal function can resume and the penis can be become erect.
Side effects can include headaches, sickness, hot flushes, indigestion, a stuffy nose or feeling dizzy.
Over recent years, health experts have warned of a staggering rise in erectile problems in young men.
According to doctors, watching pornography is driving a wave of erectile dysfunction.
UK-based Dr Babak Ashrafi said there had been an 46 percent increase in men under the age of 30 currently seeking help for erectile dysfunction compared to last year.
But Dr Babak said a spike in younger men experiencing the problem could be linked to the ‘exponential’ consumption of explicit online material.
‘Despite men between the ages of 45 and 54 being the most likely to suffer from erectile difficulties, younger male audiences are increasingly requesting treatment,’ he said.
Dr Babak explained that while occasional pornography viewing was harmless, frequent or marathon sessions could retrain men’s brains and prevent them from becoming aroused normally.
‘Repeated overexposure to graphic content can over time make it harder for individuals to become aroused by real-life sexual experiences,’ he said.
The family doctor added that porn could also be giving men unrealistic perceptions about their manhood, or how long they should last in bed.
