Are Men's Sexual Health Supplements Safe?

If you’ve spent any time at all online – and who hasn’t? – then it won’t have taken you long to discover that sexual health supplements for men are extremely commonplace and that there are hundreds of options from which to choose. They are sold with many different purposes in mind, but what many men are wondering – aside from whether or not they actually work – is if they are actually safe to take.

Unfortunately, according to a report that was recently published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, many over the counter men’s sexual health supplements are not only completely ineffective, they are also sometimes unsafe.  This is bad news for men who hope to be able to overcome sexual health struggles through the use of these products.

Moreover, this doesn’t represent only a handful of men.  Approximately 40% to 70% of men will experience sexual dysfunction at some point in their lives. That said, prescription medications are expensive and it can be tough on a man’s pride to have to discuss these issues with their doctors, regardless of the fact that it is the best possible way to find the right treatment.  However, it is for these reasons that many will turn to over the counter sexual health supplements in an attempt to overcome those issues.

From 1999 through 2007, the sales within the dietary supplement marketplace, as a whole – including all forms and uses – doubled.  It is currently estimated that about half of all Americans use a supplement for one reason or another.  These products vary widely in ingredients, safety, effectiveness and price, even among those containing the same ingredients at the same strengths.  

Unfortunately, there is a lack of regulation in the American supplement marketplace when it comes to ingredients, purity and dosage, and the amount and quality of information available on the health impacts of these ingredients is quite limited.  For that reason, health care practitioners, pharmacists, and consumers, alike, are all easily confused by claims and promises made by these products.  

Still, even with the limited information available, a doctor remains your best resource for deciding what strategy to take in terms of correcting sexual health challenges.  The reason is that these issues can be caused by a range of different reasons, and it could be that finding the answer is as simple as treating a condition that you didn’t even know was related.  Be honest and upfront about symptoms, other products, lifestyle changes and budgetary limitations, to give your doctor the best information possible to help you. 

If you’ve spent any time at all online – and who hasn’t? – then it won’t have taken you long to discover that sexual health supplements for men are extremely commonplace and that there are hundreds of options from which to choose.  They are sold with many different purposes in mind, but what many men are wondering – aside from whether or not they actually work – is if they are actually safe to take.

Unfortunately, according to a report that was recently published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, many over the counter men’s sexual health supplements are not only completely ineffective, they are also sometimes unsafe.  This is bad news for men who hope to be able to overcome sexual health struggles through the use of these products.

Moreover, this doesn’t represent only a handful of men.  Approximately 40% to 70% of men will experience sexual dysfunction at some point in their lives. That said, prescription medications are expensive and it can be tough on a man’s pride to have to discuss these issues with their doctors, regardless of the fact that it is the best possible way to find the right treatment.  However, it is for these reasons that many will turn to over the counter sexual health supplements in an attempt to overcome those issues.

From 1999 through 2007, the sales within the dietary supplement marketplace, as a whole – including all forms and uses – doubled.  It is currently estimated that about half of all Americans use a supplement for one reason or another.  These products vary widely in ingredients, safety, effectiveness and price, even among those containing the same ingredients at the same strengths.  

Unfortunately, there is a lack of regulation in the American supplement marketplace when it comes to ingredients, purity and dosage, and the amount and quality of information available on the health impacts of these ingredients is quite limited.  For that reason, health care practitioners, pharmacists, and consumers, alike, are all easily confused by claims and promises made by these products.  

Still, even with the limited information available, a doctor remains your best resource for deciding what strategy to take in terms of correcting sexual health challenges.  The reason is that these issues can be caused by a range of different reasons, and it could be that finding the answer is as simple as treating a condition that you didn’t even know was related.  Be honest and upfront about symptoms, other products, lifestyle changes and budgetary limitations, to give your doctor the best information possible to help you.