Peak Male Performance. Stronger. Fuller. Confident.
Premium male enhancement solutions delivered discreetly to your door.
Physicians
Private
Delivery
Male Enhancement Pump
Electric pump engineered for stronger, fuller results.
- Hands-Free Electric Operation
- Promotes Blood Flow
- Discreet & Reusable
Nitric Oxide
Boosts blood flow for harder, fuller erections.
- Improves Circulation
- Supports Stronger Erections
- Daily Performance Support
Semen Volume Maximizer
Daily formula to support increased volume and intensity.
- Boosts Volume
- Enhances Intensity
- Once-Daily Formula
Effective ED Treatment. Private. Convenient. Trusted.
Doctor-prescribed ED medication delivered discreetly to your door.
Physicians
Private
Delivery
ED3 Max Dissolvable ED Pills
Long-lasting results up to 36 hours.
- Up to 36 Hour Window
- Improved Confidence
- Works When You Need It
Sildenafil 25mg
Proven effective treatment.
- Starts Working in 30–60 Min
- Effective, As Needed
- Trusted & Reliable
ED4 Chew Gum
Low daily dose for continuous readiness.
- Taken Once Daily
- Continuous Readiness
- Improves Confidence
Highlights
- Herbal supplements are not regulated by the FDA, and they’re not required to back up their claims with scientific proof.
- The FDA has listed hundreds of “male enhancement” products as tainted with hidden ingredients.
- Prescription erectile dysfunction medications, on the other hand, undergo a vigorous research process and are monitored after they’re put on the market to ensure they’re safe and that they work.
- Working with a doctor to treat your ED will help you find the root causes of the problem and treat them.
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common problem among men, especially as we age. And there’s no shortage of herbal supplements that claim to be able to help with that, usually through vague promises of increasing testosterone or increasing vitality. Yet the actual solution to ED isn’t something you’ll find at a gas station. Learn what medications actually treat ED, why they work, and what the future of ED treatment will be.
The Landscape of Male Enhancement Pills
Part of the promise of male enhancement pills and similar supplements is the easy access; some of them are even out on the counter in drugstores and other retail places. There is, however, an excellent reason for that.
Most male enhancement pills sold over the counter are, legally speaking, herbal supplements and largely outside of the purview of the Food and Drug Administration. As long as they keep their claims vague and don’t make any specific medical statements, they can sell whatever they like.
This creates two problems. The first is that honest businesses only have limited evidence their ingredients work as advertised, with little money available for the extensive testing needed to make medical claims.
The second is that the dishonest players in the market, or dishonest vendors selling the herbs, can taint the product with pharmaceuticals, creating serious risk for some of their users. The FDA has published a list of hundreds of tainted sexual enhancement products that have been found to contain hidden ingredients.
The Best Erectile Dysfunction Medications Are FDA-Approved
Fortunately, there are tried-and-true medications you can trust to work safely and effectively for ED — PDE5 inhibitors like Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, and Strendra. All of these drugs were carefully studied before they reached the market and monitored for possible issues afterward.
FDA-approved ED drugs work by blocking the enzyme phosphodiesterase type 5, or PDE5. With this enzyme blocked, the blood vessels relax, letting more blood into the penis and making it easier to both get an erection and maintain one. Like all prescription medications, they’ve had to go through the FDA approval process.
Here’s what that lengthy process looks like.
Discovery and Development
A drug company or other researcher draws on new insights or information to find a new treatment for a disease. This can range from observing an unanticipated effect later in the approval process to combing through large datasets or slightly changing the chemistry of a molecule to see if it works.
Preclinical Research
Before a drug is allowed to be studied in a human, it’ll be tested with cells in the lab and in certain types of animals, such as mice or pigs. All of these studies must adhere to rigorous standards called good laboratory practices, or GLP, to be accepted. If the studies are promising, the researchers can move to the next phase.
Clinical Research
This is where drugs can be given to humans to test safety and effectiveness. Clinical trials usually move through three phases, starting with small groups of people and progressing to larger studies that can involve thousands of people. There are tight standards to moving between phases; only 70% of potential drugs, for example, pass phase 1 trials, and only one-third of those clear the hurdles to phase 2.
FDA Review
The FDA checks all the research from all three phases, including any research conducted overseas, as well as materials such as proposed directions to take the drug. Only if the entire review panel is satisfied will the drug go to market.
Post-Market Safety Monitoring
Every drug the FDA clears is monitored after it goes on the market, with healthcare professionals reporting any concerning data or case studies.
This system exists for two reasons. It guarantees the safety of drugs, provided they’re taken according to instructions, and it proves the efficacy of the drug. The FDA takes medical claims very seriously as a result.
Spotlight on the Best FDA-Approved Male Enhancement Pills
The PDE5 inhibitor drug class includes four medications currently on the market.
- Sildenafil (Viagra). The pioneer of ED medication proven to work, Viagra has been on the market since 1998.
- Tadalafil (Cialis). Sometimes called “the weekend pill,” Cialis stays in the body longer than other drugs in the class. It’s also available in a daily dosage, unlike other PDE5 inhibitors.
- Vardenafil (Levitra and Staxyn). Levitra has the fastest uptake, with people being ready in as little as an hour after taking it.
- Avanafil (Stendra). Approved for the U.S. market in 2012, Stendra is currently available only as a brand-name product, unlike the other three, which have generic versions.
While all of these medications work in the same way, there are small differences in side effect profiles as well as how long they work and the best time to take them. Some men choose to experiment to find the one that works best for them.
The Importance of Buying ED Medications From a Trustworthy Source
When you’re ready to buy, you’ll While they’ve been carefully studied, ED medications are prescription medications for good reasons. They include:
Proper Diagnosis
ED has a wide range of causes, from problems with your circulatory system to stress and other mental health concerns. Even if male enhancement pills can back up their claims, they may not be able to solve the problem. By checking in with a doctor, you can get a sense of the root of the problem and address that as well.
Contraindications and Risks
Some people should not take ED medication because of their current health. People with eye problems, for example, may need to choose the right medication as some have rare vision-related side effects. Herbal supplements rarely discuss possible risks, such as allergies, as they’re not expected to under the law.
Potential Drug Interactions
ED drugs may combine with other medications you need to take to create risks for your health. The best-known example is blood pressure medication; taken in combinations, ED medication and many blood pressure management drugs increase the risk of a dangerous and sudden drop in blood pressure.
A doctor can help you determine what’s safe for you. With male enhancement supplements, you run the risk of a problem that may not even be known.
Conclusion
While gas station sex pills can be tempting, they’re far less regulated than prescription medication. Even the most rigorous and scrupulous manufacturer can’t make the same promises of safety and efficacy that a drug that’s been through the FDA process can.
In addition, because they’re prescription drugs, they come with the help of a doctor who can help you diagnose precisely what’s causing your ED and treat it. They can also help you pick the medication that’s right for your needs and safe for your specific condition. To learn more, visit our erectile dysfunction page.
Dan is a long-time freelance writer focusing on technology, science, health, and medicine, with a lifelong interest in physics, biology, and medicine. His work has taken a particular focus on scientific studies “beyond the headlines,” reading the study to more closely examine the results.