Male Enhancement Products to Increase Size and Sexual Performance: Fact vs. Fiction
Male Enhancement Products
The sheer volume of male enhancement supplements and devices available is enormous. At the same time, there is confusion about how well these products work, if they even work at all.
There are penis pills, pumps, extenders, creams, and gels, just to name a few. In this article, I will categorize these products into groups, and attempt to separate the myth from reality when it comes to the efficacy of male enhancement products.
Male Enhancement Pills
Male enhancement supplements, commonly referred to as "penis pills", are one of the most popular types of these products. Unlike prescription drugs such as Viagra or Cialis, these supplements are usually marketed as being all-natural, and contain a variety of herbal aphrodisiacs like maca root, tongkat ali, and tribulus terrestris, among others.
These supplements are typically used for increasing sexual performance and treating the symptoms of ED. The benefits associated with the use of these products include a boost in erection size and quality, staying power, and sexual enjoyment.
In contrast to prescription drugs, male enhancement pills are generally safe to use and do not cause harmful side effects, with some exceptions. However, due to the relative lack of side effects, the lower cost, and the convenience afforded by these products, they remain a safe and easy-to-use method for improving sexual function.
What About Enlargement Pills?
Despite the persistent belief to the contrary, there is no fact-based evidence to support the claims of the makers of penis enlargement pills. No supplement, drug, or any other ingested substance can increase the size of any body part, let alone the penis.
The most that any male enhancement pill can do is to increase blood flow to the penis, thereby creating a larger erection - but any changes in size would be measured in millimeters, not inches. The fact is, the fantastic claims made by penis enlargement pill manufacturers are just that - fantasy. They can even be dangerous. (1)
That said, penis enlargement is not only possible, it's scientifically proven - but not by taking a pill. Rather, the use of a penis pump, penis exercises, or especially a penis extender, will produce real and measurable results over time (more on that later).
Topical Enhancement Products
Male enhancement pills and supplements aren't the only way to boost sexual performance, however. There is actually a large market for lotions, creams, oils, and transdermal patches that can be applied topically to produce effects quickly.
Unlike supplement pills, which take time for the results to be seen, these topical options work fast to provide a more immediate solution to improving bedroom performance. For this reason, many men prefer products that can be applied topically, when needed.
Do Enlargement Creams Work?
As pointed out earlier, enlargement pills do not work, and the same goes for enlargement creams. Similarly, any increase in size these products offer will be minimal, at best.
Barring dangerous penile surgical procedures, only penis exercises, pumps, and/or extenders will produce any real and proven gains in size.
Products For Premature Ejaculation
When a man consistently achieves an orgasm too quickly, he suffers from a condition referred to as premature ejaculation, or PE. The causes of PE are varied, but the main problem is a heightened sensitivity of the penis during arousal.
For those men struggling with the symptoms of PE, there are a variety of desensitizing products available that may help. Also known as "delay" or "stay-hard" creams and sprays, these products contain a mild topical anesthetic which helps reduce sensitivity, thereby increasing staying power.
Besides these topical solutions to PE, there are specially formulated supplements available that may help. These supplements work by leveling out serotonin production, which can often be an underlying cause for premature ejaculation.
Semen Increasers
It may surprise you to know that having inadequate amounts of seminal fluid can impact you in more ways than just visually. It can also be responsible for not only a poor sperm count, but less than spectacular orgasms as well.
As it turns out, the amount of semen you produce is directly linked to how powerful of an orgasm you experience, and can significantly impact your sex life. Having higher amounts of semen results in quicker, more intense contractions of the muscles responsible for ejaculation.
But if your semen production is sub-par, your orgasms will also be sub-par. This problem only increases with age, as semen production declines over time, resulting in shorter and weaker orgasms.
Fortunately, there are natural supplements that increase semen production available, and as a result, substantially enhance your sex life. Formulated with natural ingredients linked to boosting sperm count and seminal fluid volume, these products are safe to use, and prove to be very effective.
Products For Penis Enlargement
Regardless of what anyone says, when it comes to penis enlargement products there are basically three options available: penile surgical procedures, penis enlargement devices, and manual penis exercises.
Of the three, the surgical option is by far the most risky and dangerous. These procedures can result in nerve damage, infection, decreased sensitivity, erectile dysfunction, deformation, and scarring that could actually leave you with an even shorter penis! (2)
For most men, surgical penile enlargement is an expensive, painful, invasive and highly risky procedure that should be avoided. Therefore, we will focus on traction devices and pumps, and manual penis exercises.
Penis Extenders
Penis extenders are traction devices that keep the penis in a stretched state. Eventually, the consistent use of an extender will deliver permanent increases in penile length, through a process known as cytokinesis.
Scientific research has verified the effectiveness of penis extenders, with participants in one study experiencing an average gain of almost an entire inch after a six month period. What's more, after discontinuing use of the extenders, the participants did not see any loss of gains. (3)
With consistent use, penile traction products such as extenders and weight hanging devices can deliver real and measurable gains that have been backed by research. However, these products primarily increase length rather than width, so if increasing girth is your goal, a penis pump would be better suited.
Penis Pumps
Besides increasing overall penis size, penis pumps are also a popular treatment for erectile dysfunction and sexual performance issues. In fact, it's the only non-surgical treatment for penis enlargement that's been specifically approved by the FDA
Penis pumps work by completely engorging the vessels in the penis with blood, and using pressure to stretch and expand the penis. The results are instantaneous, with an obvious increase in overall size, but for permanent gains, consistent use is necessary.
Originally, penis pumps worked by forcing air out of the chamber where the penis is placed, creating a vacuum that pulls blood into the penis. These types of pumps are still used, but these days water pumps have become increasingly popular, where warm water is used rather than air.
The advantage that water pumps have over air pumps is that they are more comfortable, less risky to use, and more effective, due to a more evenly distributed volume and pressure, and better blood flow from the heat.
Currently, the two most popular products are the Bathmate and the Penomet pumps.
Manual Exercises
If you want to go old school (and I mean really old school), then using manual penis exercises is your best bet. Some of the most common enlargement exercise techniques have been around for thousands of years, and are still being used today.
Of all the techniques available, the most popular include jelquing, kegels, and penis stretching exercises. Here's a brief overview of each:
- Jelqing – Jelquing is a two-part exercise, combining a pulling and squeezing of the penis to increase both length and girth over time. To perform: using a lubricant, make an OK sign with the thumb and index finger. With the palm of your hand facing away from you, tightly grip the base of the penis, and slowly slide down the entire shaft of the penis. Repeat.
- Kegel Exercises – Kegels are used to help strengthen the pubococcygeus muscles, which allows more power and control of ejaculation. To perform: Simply contract the PC muscles (the ones you use to stop urinating mid-stream). Start with 10-15 reps and work your way up over time.
- Stretching – Just as you would expect, this exercise involves pulling the penis and maintaining it in that stretched state, normally applied in multiple directions. Over time, this exercise is thought to increase the length of the penis. To perform: Firmly grip the penis just beneath the head, using the same hand technique used in jelquing. Pull and stretch the penis away from the body and hold for 30 seconds. Do this pulling down, then up, then to the left, and finally to the right.
While these techniques can be very helpful, make sure start out at a gentle pace to avoid any injury. Keep in mind that these exercises require dedication and need to be performed on repeated basis to see any significant results.
References
- www.fda.gov/drugs/medication-health-fraud/tainted-sexual-enhancement-products
- www.webmd.com/men/guide/penis-enlargement-does-it-work#3
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18990153