Too many aphrodisiac drugs: beware of the dangers

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Extract from the article: Preoccupied with their libidinal performance, many users regularly resort to tablets, decoctions, powders and barks. These are products that boost sexual stamina and appetite. Men and women alike use and abuse these aphrodisiacs, which are freely av

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Preoccupied with their libidinal performance, many users regularly resort to tablets, decoctions, powders and barks. These are products that boost sexual stamina and appetite.  Men and women alike use and abuse these aphrodisiacs, which are freely available on the market, ignoring the enormous health risks involved.

Ointments, bark, roots, strips, liquids, syrups and tablets, traditional or medical aphrodisiacs are sold with almost magical promises: an easier or tenfold erection, a feeling of lightness, a more intense libido or orgasm, stimulated desire and top performance.  « I need roots to boost my performance in bed.I have a serious problem with my penis. I take a long time to get an erection and when I do, it doesn't last. I'm afraid my wife will go outside and have a look. I've bought some roots at the market, which I accompany with a glass of alcohol. The result is just there », says Patrick, 41, a master tailor living in Adidogomé Logoté. He goes on to say: « When I don't have the roots, I take an energy drink and mix it with Nescafé, whisky and a powder made from bark. The result is the same. When I don't have the bark, I turn to modern medicine. I generally take tablets that are sold on street corners or often in pharmacies; they work faster. They're good sexual starters ».

The proliferation of these aphrodisiac products on social networks draws attention to a risky practice. Sold as miracle cures, these products are causing concern among health experts.

Contributing factors

People suffering from sexual dysfunction are generally dominated by socio-cultural perceptions.They consider any problems affecting the genitals to be « shameful » or highly « confidential ». This tendency to hide from others favours recourse to traditional practitioners or simply a seller of aphrodisiacs in the hope of resolving the problem once and for all, without even exposing it to a doctor, in the greatest discretion.

« The predisposition of the population to resort to self-medication opens the way to entrepreneurs who want to earn their living easily and even illegally, by distributing products that may be dangerous to health. The abundant supply of all varieties of aphrodisiacs on our markets is sufficient indication of demand, or at least the need for, or even consumption of, these products by a significant proportion of the population.The business of aphrodisiacs and other sexual products is undoubtedly thriving. Added to all this is the poor access to health services, particularly in the area of male sexual health, with a high concentration of urology specialists in the capital », says Mamadou Oury Sidibé, Social Assistant and Health Services Manager at the Centre Africain d'Etudes Supérieures en Gestion (CESAG-Dakar).

The virtual absence of state control over the manufacture, import and marketing of (scientifically approved) ranges of aphrodisiac and sex products is an essential factor. You only have to visit our various markets to see the blatant and aggressive display of aphrodisiac products with packaging bearing images of the male external organ, large buttocks and large female breasts; once again, in violation of modesty and our socio-cultural and religious norms.

Finally, « some men are on a permanent quest for sexual performance, or even asur-performance, with their sexual partners. Some men have a complex about being inferior to women, and there is a lack of communication between couples in an environment where recourse to a sexologist or psychologist is not negligible. However, taking medication to treat organs as precious as the male genital tract without a prescription from a health professional could have serious risks and consequences for public health », explains Mamadou Oury Sidibé, a social worker.

Risks and dangers

« I have experience of over-the-counter aphrodisiac products and tablets on the market. After drinking them, you'll get an erection and everything will be fine. But after the act, you feel headaches and dizziness », confides Luc, a whitener in Sagbado.  Even if their effectiveness is felt, the health risks and side-effects are very real.

The first consequence is psychological. « Aphrodisiac products have an effect on the consumer's psyche. It's more the psychological factors than the active ingredients that work. Moreover, many aphrodisiacs play on the analogy with an erect penis or the female sex », explains a sociologist.

Another danger is that « if you take them too much, you become addicted. This dependence leads the body to resist these products in order to get rid of the erection for good. Most often, this happens very early on », adds a GP. What's more, « excessive use of certain aphrodisiacs irritates the urinary mucosa. This can lead to bloody urine. An overdose can even be fatal. Unfortunately for men, these exaggerated orgasms can lead to uncontrolled erections, which can result in what is known as priapism, a prolonged pathological erection », says a urologist.

Dr Mosidi Fofana, gynecomed and sexologist (Guinea), warned of the potential dangers of these aphrodisiac products. « Although sellers claim that they have no side effects, the reality is quite different.In addition to the risks associated with counterfeiting and the ingestion of toxic substances, self-medication can aggravate sexual health problems and have a negative psychological impact on patients », he stressed.

« Attoté » becomes dangerous

In a recent press release, the Autorité Ivoirienne de Régulation Pharmaceutique (AIRP) informed the public that quality control tests carried out by the Côte d'Ivoire National Public Health Laboratory (LNSP) on samples of the aphrodisiac products « Attote original 100% natural » and « la paix Congnons-Mousso-Yako » revealed the presence of large quantities of sildenafil in these products.

According to the AIRP, sildenafil is a chemical medicinal product indicated for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. The introduction of this substance into these so-called natural products constitutes an adulteration of them. They are no longer natural products made exclusively from plants. According to the AIRP, consumption of these adulterated products, overdosed with sildenafil, causes headaches and dizziness. In patients with high blood pressure or cardiovascular risks, strokes, heart attacks and even sudden death can occur.

Taking precautions

Erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation are complex disorders that require a thorough medical assessment, says Dr Mosidi Fofana, gynecomed and sexologist. It is crucial to understand that these conditions may be a symptom of a problem. « Treating only the symptoms without addressing the root cause can worsen the situation in the long term », he insists.

Under no circumstances should erectile enhancers, commonly known as aphrodisiacs, be taken without medical advice. For this reason, Dr Mosidi Fofana states that the drugs are subject to strict precautions for use and may interact with other treatments. « A medical consultation is essential to assess the potential risks and benefits », he recommends.

Be sure to read the precautions for use and be wary of products touting « miracle » and « quick » effects.The first fundamental step towards regaining your libido is to take care of yourself, not your libido.  Improve the quality of your sleep, eat a healthy, balanced diet, take part in regular sporting activities and take a few moments to relax.

Time for action

Action must be taken at several levels to curb the threat and limit the impact of the use of scientifically unapproved natural aphrodisiacs on people's health. According to Mamadou Oury Sidibé, Health Services Manager at the African Centre for Advanced Studies in Management (CESAG-Dakar), this will includeconducting studies on samples of aphrodisiacs and other sex products available on the parallel market; strengthening regulations and controls on the manufacture, import and marketing of so-called natural aphrodisiacs and derivatives; working with practitioners of traditional medicine and those of Western medicine to discuss the role and responsibility of each in the process of treating patients; and finally, raising public awareness of the risks and consequences of aphrodisiacs and derivatives that are said to be natural but not scientifically approved.

William O.