How does the Viagra
pill work in getting one aroused
Viagra is a drug used to treat male
erectile dysfunction and impotence. It is available
as a pill that is taken around 30 minutes before the
sexual intercourse to make a man aroused. Part of the
physiological process of erection involves the para-sympathetic
nervous system causing the release of nitric oxide (NO)
in the corpus cavernosum of the penis. NO (nitric oxide)
binds to the receptors of the enzyme guanylate cyclase,
which results in increased levels of cyclic guanosine
monophosphate (cGMP). It leads to smooth muscle relaxation
(vasodilation) in the corpus cavernosum, resulting in
increased inflow of blood which leads to an erection.
Sildenafil is a potent and selective inhibitor of cGMP
specific phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) which is responsible
for degradation of cGMP in the corpus cavernosum. The
molecular structure of sildenafil is similar to that
of cGMP and acts as a competitive binding agent of cGMP
in the corpus cavernosum, resulting in better erections.
Without any kind of sexual stimulation and no activation
of the NO/cGMP system, Sildenafil cannot cause an erection.
Sildenafil is metabolized by hepatic enzymes and excreted
by both the liver and kidneys. If Viagra pill is taken
with a high fat meal, there may be a delay in absorption
of Sildenafil. Also, the peak effect of Viagra might
be reduced slightly as the plasma concentration will
be lowered.
Viagra basically helps with the task of ejaculation.
Normally, when things are working properly, ejaculation
is a three-step process. The man becomes sexually aroused,
the penis responds by becoming erect and due to stimulations
ejaculation occurs.
In some cases, even though a man is sexually stimulated,
the penis does not become erect. It needs to be aroused
to become erect in order to have intercourse. There
are no muscular contractions involved in making the
penis erect. To become erect, the penis instead uses
pressure. Due to pressure of blood and enlargement of
blood vessels, an erection takes place.
Viagra helps in eliminating the PDE that is decomposing
the cGMP, so cGMP builds up in the penis and has a larger
effect on the artery walls. The greater the amount of
cGMP the greater the blood flow, and the greater the
blood flow the greater the degree of the erection.
It has been proved that the human body has at least
11 different kinds of PDE that it produces. Only one
of those kinds of PDE, PDE5 is found primarily in the
penis. Once this fact was discovered it became very
easy to understand the mechanism of the erections and
find ways to treat erectile dysfunction and impotence
in men.
A chemical known as Sildenafil was worked out which
blocked PDE5 and helped in maintaining an erection.
With the PDE5 blocked, cGMP could build up in the penis
and increase the blood flow there without affecting
other parts of the body.
How Sildenafil Citrate works
Thus, Viagra pill contains the main ingredient known
as Sildenafil citrate. It enters the bloodstream and
flows throughout a man’s body. Sildenafil citrate
attaches to the PDE5 enzyme in his penis and disables
most of it. When a man is then sexually aroused, the
brain sends the normal message to the NANC cells in
his penis, which produce nitric oxide as usual.
This nitric oxide creates cGMP, which starts relaxing
the arteries in his penis. Since the PDE5 has been disabled,
the cGMP in the penis does not break down. Instead,
it builds up and lets the arteries in the penis dilate
fully. This way the penis is inflated with blood and
a man is able to have and maintain an erection for a
satisfying intercourse.
This way, Viagra helps a man in getting aroused so
that he can have sexual intercourse. It is an effective
medicine that helps in getting a man aroused.
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