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Penis enlargement pills may pose health risk
submitted by Sharniqua
Reported by Monica Robins
CLEVELAND -- Pills that promise to enlarge the penis may pose a serious health risk to those who use them.
The pills, advertised in most men's magazines, make tempting claims to enlarge penis size. Some of the products can be found over-the-counter for about $30 a bottle. They come with extensive warning labels and no guarantees.
"They generally don't work and many of the components can give a man other side effects and really should be used with a great deal of caution," said Dr. Allen Seftel of University Hospital.
The herb "yohimbe" is a common ingredient in these pills. Seftel says a safe maximum daily dose would be 15 milligrams. Two tablets in one type of enlargement pill contain 250 milligrams.
"It can give a man an erection in certain instances, but its effect really is to combat anti-hypertensive medicines," said Seftel. "So if you're taking a anti-hypertensive, it can raise your blood pressure. If you take a large enough dose, it can lead to stroke."
L-arginine is an amino acid that increases blood flow. One of the pills contains 2500 mg. Less than a gram per day is safe.
"L-arginine taken in large doses can cause massive blood vessel dilation and give you hypotension," said Seftel. "You can faint, maybe even die."
It's important to be cautious because these products are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration so there's no guarantee the label content is 100 percent accurate.
The pills can also get very expensive because they usually don't work with the first dose. It may take weeks before the body builds levels high enough to notice a change.
They sell well because they can increase blood flow, giving the illusion of size.
"There's no reason to believe this will give you a larger penis," said Seftel. "These compounds, if they're going to work, will augment. They will add to potentially an existing erection by increasing the engorgement of the head of the penis and potentially the width and the girth of the penis."
Researchers also don't know the long term effects of taking many of these compounds. While there's a potential it may work, there's also a chance of permanent damage.
"Someone could walk around with an erection that lasts for four, six, or eight hours to the point where it becomes dangerous," said Seftel. "And certain individuals after six or eight hours may lose their ability to have erections down the road once the penis is damaged."
Seftel says ten percent of men who see a urologist for sexual dysfunction have either tried or are taking these types of pills. The supplement industry is booming with people willing to try them on their own.
Seftel's best advice is be cautious, know exactly what you're taking, and talk to your doctor before you try anything promising supersize.
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