The “Men Must” trend is heating up, with guys feeling the pressure to be top performers in every area, including the bedroom. Whether they want to go “bigger is better” or increase their sexual performance, some turn to enhancement products for a helping hand. While certain products might be medically approved, other concoctions are available online or from herbalists without any regulation.
Dumisani Siziba, a performing artist from Kraaifontein in Cape Town, says social media puts a lot of pressure on men.
“Back in the day, discussing sex was rare and often considered taboo,” he says.
“Social media has become a disease, putting undue pressure on people about these issues.”
Dumisani Siziba
He notes that problems arise when someone or an ex-partner discusses your bedroom challenges with others.
Siziba says such situations can undermine a person’s confidence, leading them to seek options like penis enlargement or sexual enhancements without considering the potential impact on their lives.
Curiosity and consequences
A man from Worcester in the Western Cape who wants to stay anonymous because of stigmatisation, admits that he tried traditional enhancement products.
“Most of my friends are foreign nationals, and they would brag about their endurance in bed and how they impress girls. Out of curiosity, I tried it once,” he says.
He explains that he experienced a level of arousal he had never felt before, but he wasn’t pleased with the results after a few hours. “I was aroused for more than 24 hours, and I was sweating non-stop too.”
He adds that he never used such products again, as he suspected his blood levels were too high. Being health-conscious, he was curious but ultimately decided it was not something he would repeat.
NEXT: Gents, self-care is more than skin-deep
Men are desperate for help
Dr Bongiwe Pepu from The Line Men’s Clinic in Hillcrest, KwaZulu Natal, says sexual health is often stigmatised, and professional help is not openly available.
She explains that it is almost a behind-the-scenes service, which has created a gap for various unverified solutions to enter the market.
“For men, they are desperate enough to try anything. Most sexual enhancement products do not work, however, some show some response.”
Dr Bongiwe Pepu
According to Pepu, the biggest problem with these alternative products is their lack of providing sustainable results. For sustainable results, she says, the solution has to be multipronged.
Ensuring safe and effective treatment
“The main risk of these alternative products is that, because they are unregulated, the ingredients in most are not stated and cannot be guaranteed,” says Pepu.
She notes that information about what is really in these products, their strengths, and any associated side effects is often missing. This makes it difficult to determine how safe they are when interacting with other medicines.
“The best way for men to distinguish between proper help and misleading information is increased awareness on the subject, so they feel less embarrassed about seeking help.”
Pepu adds, “To know professionals like us are available and qualified to help them.”
She explains that when seeking help, it’s important to ensure that the information shared by the health provider makes sense. Men should ask questions and make sure they are satisfied and feel involved in the solution.
ALSO READ: Men’s mental health: Breaking the silence and stigma
Get the Health For Mzansi newsletter: Your bi-weekly dose of kasi health, wellness and self-care inspiration.
