We've all been there. You're making out. Things get hot and heavy. He's got his hand under your blouse, and you can feel him stiffen under your touch. The inevitable is about to happen. And then you remember the condom in your purse.
You pull out the condom and fork it over with a "I'm sorry but these are my rules" gaze. He opens it and starts to put it on, and as he does, Mr. Friendly withers.
Well, Mr. Friendly may have a new BFF.
A new condom affectionately nicknamed "the Viagra condom" is nearing regulatory approval in Europe. The condom, which doesn't actually contain Viagra, is targeted towards men who have trouble getting -- or keeping -- it up, particularly those who suffer from condom erectile dysfunction, meaning that they lose their erections when they put on a condom.
This article reports that Futura Medical has developed a condom impregnated with a gel called Zanifi, a vasodilator meant to increase blood flow in the penis. "The market they're aiming for isn't just men with decreased erectile performance, it's the guys who perform well enough, but lose the erection while they're putting on the condom, which is a sizeable number of men," explained Dr. Keith Jarvi, chief of staff, urology at Mr. Sinai Hospital and professor of surgery at the University of Toronto.
So what do I think?
As an OB/GYN who has treated my share of sexually transmitted diseases, I'm delighted at the idea that this product may actually increase condom use. If it works, I can imagine that even some happily married men might try this, if for no other reason than that they're curious! So I imagine the same goes for people with multiple sexual partners and others who would be at risk of sexually transmitted diseases. If there's anything that will keep chlamydia at bay, I'm a fan!
However, I haven't seen any safety studies and I worry a bit about the effects of a vasodilator that might have other side effects.
And I also worry about the continued medicalization of sexuality. Yes, if a dude has a problem keeping his erection, it can be a big problem for him, and yes, if something helps him, I'm all for that. But it's a fine line between treating a medical condition and the pressure both men and women feel to have perfect Hollywood sex.
The reality is that erections deflate, libidos wane, orgasms sometimes evade us. And that's okay, because it's real. I hope this condom doesn't pressure guys to have an always-rock-hard pecker. But if it's safe, helpful, and increases condom use, it will have my support.
It's too soon to say if and when this product might be approved in the US, but by then, we should have data from Europe, and we'll know more.
Until then, guys will have to settle for what we've got. And the rest of us will have to keep handing over that condom, knowing that Mr. Friendly might not like it.
What do you think? Is the Viagra condom a good idea? Or does it worry you? Are we putting too much pressure on guys to perform? Or is wanting a good, hard erection our birthright? Tell me what you think!
Penis penis penis,
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Lissa Rankin, MD: Founder of OwningPink.com, Pink Medicine Woman coach, motivational speaker, and author of What's Up Down There? Questions You'd Only Ask Your Gynecologist If She Was Your Best Friend and Encaustic Art: The Complete Guide To Creating Fine Art With Wax.
Learn more about Lissa Rankin here.
