I Tried Erectile Dysfunction Gummies. It Completely Transformed My Sex Life.

SINCE MY FIRST sexual encounter at seventeen, when I couldn’t get it up with my girlfriend, I’ve dealt with erectile dysfunction on a consistent basis. The issue isn’t rooted in my physical well-being; my blood flow is excellent, and I have a healthy heart. I commit to working out at least three times a week and maintain a relatively nutritious diet. Rather, the root of the problem lies in my (performance) anxiety, which has shadowed my experiences.

Sex can be a nerve-wracking endeavor, even for someone like me, a sex columnist who has penned numerous books on the subject—one of which is co-authored with my name on the cover of Men’s Health: Best. Sex. Ever. However, the problem is that the instant my mind starts racing and I begin fearing that I won’t be able to get hard, the situation soon spirals into a self-fulfilling prophecy. In simpler terms, just thinking about the possibility of my dick deflating effectively seals my fate—it’s quite the cruel irony, as it means I end up missing out on the action altogether.

Of course, it’s important to acknowledge that sex encompasses more than just penetration. There’s a wealth of enjoyment to be experienced even without a solid erection, but let’s face it: when you desire P-in-V or P-in-A (and aim to climax), and you find yourself unable to, it significantly dampens the mood for everyone involved.

Back when I was 18, my psychiatrist prescribed Propranolol, a medication intended to help with my ED. It’s crucial to clarify that it isn’t a vasodilator like traditional ED medications such as Viagra and Cialis. Propranolol doesn’t aid in dilating blood vessels or enhancing blood flow. It’s proposed that this medication works by alleviating some of the intense physiological reactions that you experience during episodes of anxiety. From my own experience, Propranolol didn’t provide any relief. When I sought out alternative options, my psychiatrist firmly denied my request, stating: “You’re just going to have to learn how to calm down and beat your performance anxiety.”

Thanks a lot, Doc. That’s truly helpful.

Throughout my college years, I encountered fluctuations in my ED challenges. During freshman year, after failing to get hard for the third time with one particular girl, she shouted, “What the hell? Are you gay? Is that the issue here? You’re gay?!”

Needless to say, I didn’t manage to achieve an erection that night, and I decided against trying to sleep with her again. Acknowledging that my struggles with ED were recurring rather than isolated incidents, I began to preemptively inform women prior to sexual encounters. I'd say, “Just so you know, I sometimes get in my head and can’t get hard when I’m intimate with someone I genuinely like. It’s not about you; it’s entirely about me. I think you’re incredibly attractive.”

This candid admission often proved beneficial, leading to a situation where I could achieve an erection afterward, especially if my partner responded with kindness (for example, “I appreciate you sharing that! No pressure to have sex. I just enjoy being naked with you.”)

I navigated my dating life in this manner without any guarantee of a full erection until late 2017, when a significant breakthrough occurred in the ED landscape: Viagra became generic (sildenafil), and telehealth platforms quickly adapted. For the first time, there was no longer a requirement to visit a doctor in person to receive a prescription for Viagra or Cialis. The process involved answering a few online questions, having a physician approve the needed medication, and receiving delivery directly to your home (in a discreet package, no less).

It fundamentally transformed the game, and you can bet I seized the opportunity.

The efficacy of Viagra was akin to bumpers safeguarding a bowling lane. Before I’d reach the point of rolling a gutter ball (which signified my impending failure to achieve an erection), Viagra came into play, keeping me upright and engaged in the moment. Taking one filled me with confidence, and I found myself worrying less about whether I could get hard, which in turn, permitted me to achieve an erection.

However, I’ve always harbored one major concern regarding Viagra: it necessitates at least 30 minutes to start working (in my case, closer to 50 minutes). This meant I had to time my doses correctly, which certainly isn’t an easy task. At times, my partner and I would initiate sexual activities before the medication took effect, rendering me unable to maintain an erection, or alternatively, we wouldn’t end up having sex at all, leaving me with a wasted pill. (Subsequently, I’d resort to furiously masturbating once my date left.) The necessity to time everything just right became a source of stress in and of itself.

Recently, the market has seen the emergence of troches (also known as sublinguals or lozenges) that you don’t simply swallow. You allow one to dissolve in your mouth, and it kicks in approximately 12 minutes later. That’s impressive, but the downside is that troches are considerably more expensive, typically costing around three to six times what you’d pay for generic pills, and you still encounter the timing dilemma (though to a lesser degree).

All of this leads to the latest innovation in ED treatment: gummies (yes, like those THC-infused gummies, but these contain ED medication). Ro, a telehealth company specializing in various ED treatments, has just launched the “Daily Rise Gummies,” which contain 7 mg of Tadalafil, the generic name for Cialis. Unlike Viagra, which can remain effective for 3-6 hours depending on individual metabolism and dosage, Cialis can have a presence in your system for a remarkable 36 hours. The supposed advantage of taking it daily is that you are prepared to engage in intimate moments whenever and wherever, eliminating the need to worry about “timing” your medication intake.

Huge, if true!

But we actually do know it’s true since some men have been prescribed daily Cialis. The typical dosage for daily Cialis generally ranges from 2.5-5 mg, as clarified by Michael Ingber, MD, a urologist and urogynecologist at Garden State Urology. The Ro daily gummies are slightly stronger at 7 mg, but it remains safe for the majority of individuals, as a single dose can fall between 5-20 mg. “Moreover,” Ingber adds, “Cialis has been tested in other medical circumstances at higher dosages; for instance, in cases of pulmonary hypertension, doses can reach up to 40 mg.”

Naturally, I was compelled to give the Daily Rise Gummies a try.

According to the Ro press team, it would take approximately five days for the Cialis to build up effectively in my body, but by day three, I started noticing significant differences. Now, having been on these daily medications for three weeks, my sex life has been utterly transformed.

One notable change is that I’m certain the medication is having a positive effect because every morning I awaken with an impressively firm erection, to the extent that my morning bathroom routine becomes a bit of a challenge (but definitely worth it).

Additionally, any form of sexually suggestive (or even merely suggestive) content now has the power to arouse me—I genuinely feel revitalized, like I’m back at sixteen. (Indeed, I’ve experienced spontaneous erections at the most inconvenient times, necessitating some discreet adjustments to my clothing.)

While all of this excitement is fantastic, those aren’t precisely the moments when I experience anxiety, right? That’s the crux of the matter. However, I have found that I can achieve an erection more reliably when I’m sharing intimacy with someone. With the gummies, I find I can preemptively respond to the sexual situation; as soon as things heat up, I take the gummies, and poof—an erection appears even before anxiety sets in. Subsequently, once I’m erect, everything flows smoothly because the medication is already taking effect.

Furthermore, I’ve noticed that my refractory period has considerably decreased. After reaching climax, I’m able to recover within about ten minutes. Previously, I was more of a one-and-done kind of guy, but now, the party can continue without any issues.

The icing on the cake is the affordability of Ro’s gummies (partially due to their smaller medication dosage). A one-month subscription for 30 Daily Rise Gummies costs $89 (which breaks down to approximately $3 a day). If you opt for a three-month supply, the cost totals $207, translating to about $2 a day.

The only downside I’ve encountered is a seemingly perpetual stuffy nose—not completely blocked, but about 50% affected.

That stuffy nose, medically referred to as "nasopharyngitis," is a commonly reported side effect of many ED medications, as explained by Ingber. Traditional ED medications function by inhibiting an enzyme called Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5). This process amplifies the effects of nitric oxide, a vasodilator, which helps increase blood flow to the genitals. “The catch is that it can also affect blood vessels in other areas, causing side effects like flushing, headaches, and nasal congestion,” Ingber adds.

Many of the decongestants I would typically employ to alleviate my stuffy nose (such as Afrin nasal spray or Sudafed) work by constricting blood vessels, which can negatively impact my erections. Thus, I’ve resorted to using Neilmed sinus rinse on a daily basis, which effectively helps clear my nasal passages.

Am I still dealing with a bit of nasal congestion? Yes. Is it worth it to be able to engage in penetrative sex at a moment’s notice? Absolutely, without a doubt.