Sexual supplements are useful products to correct some dysfunctions or discomforts typical of the affective-sexual sphere of men and women.
Sexual dysfunctions of man and woman
The problems and sexual "discomforts" that most frequently affect males are: sterility, impotence and premature ejaculation.
- Sterility: can be determined by various etiologies, such as reduced ability to expel sperm, sperm maturation shortage, impaired mobility, etc.
- Impotence: impotence essentially consists of erectile difficulty. It can be organic (hormonal or congenital dysfunction) or, more often, psychogenic.
- Premature ejaculation: this is an excessive brevity of the coitus due to the rapid occurrence of the ejaculatory reflex, which occurs within a few seconds of penetration or even before it occurs. Similar to erectile dysfunction, it too can be organic or, more often, psychogenic in nature.
The problems and the "sexual discomforts" that most frequently afflict the woman concern: sterility, disorders of desire and / or excitement and orgasmic disorders.
- Sterility: can be induced by many factors: infectious, autoimmune, obstructive, etc.
- Desire disorders
- Excitement disorders
- Orgasm disorders: anorgasmia or inability to reach the peak of pleasure.
NB . Points 2-3-4 have a frequently psychogenic etiology, although alterations of the hormonal axis are not rare.
Types of sexual supplements
For the pharmaceutical and supplement companies, the sexual environment is one of the most "pecuniary draw" basins.
Where (often and willingly) the performance of a good psychotherapist or a good specialized doctor would be sufficient (often ignored for higher costs or too much embarrassment), it is preferred (also for pride, especially in the male sex) to lean on friends and acquaintances on the basis of lived experiences or "legendary" stories that narrate the achievement of exceptional (or even just normal) performances regarding the use of some sexual integrators.
In my opinion, a similar attitude can only increase uncertainties, make the hardship chronic and probably materialize a new psychological DEPENDENCE.
However, the products most commonly used as sexual integrators belong to different categories:
Aphrodisiacs
They should act on increasing desire and excitement by counteracting impotence. They generally consist of dry extracts and micronized powders of herbs, roots and drugs fortified with stimulating amino acids.
The most common ingredients are the Monte Hermon Grass ( Ferula odorosa ), the Damiana ( Turnera diffusa ), the Muira puama ( Ptychopetalum olacoides ), the Guaranà ( Paullinia cupana ), the Ginseng ( Panax ginseng ), the Andean Maca ( Lepidium meyenii ) and Ginko biloba, but also L-taurine, caffeine and ginsenosides. One of the most effective aphrodisiacs, yohimbe, is currently included in the list of plants that cannot be used for the production of food supplements in Italy. Among the amino acids marketed to increase the synthesis of nitric oxide, stimulating the blood supply to the penis, we recall the Arginine, ornithine and Citrulline.
Aphrodisiac sexual supplements are marketed by virtue of a hypothetical ergogenic function on overall sexual functions; should act by increasing sexual activity, reducing performance anxiety (???), improving genital oxygenation, enhancing muscle contractility, alleviating the sense of fatigue and, not least, promoting libido.
Stimulants for women
This category of sexual supplements is specific to women; the active ingredients contained in them (almost the same as the aphrodisiacs listed above) should primarily counteract female frigidity. Companies market stimulating sexual supplements for women with the promise of encouraging both desire and excitement. The most commonly used ingredients are: Andean Maca ( Lepidium meyenii ), Ashwaganda ( Withania sonnifera ) and Muira puama ( Liriosma ovata ).
Energizing tonic
These are mixtures containing potentially stimulating herbs and amino acids; the whole should affect the overall physical charge leading to an improvement in concentration and sexual performance. The elite ingredients are: Guarana ( Paullinia cupana ), Coffee, Cola and Ginseng ( Panax ginseng ), but also Synephrine, Arginine and Citrulline, as well as vitamin mixes.
Stimulating testosterone
Deputies exclusively for male consumption (although in women too sexual desire is modulated by the hormone itself), testosterone-stimulating sex supplements are basically composed of dry plant extracts and synthetic molecules that can directly or indirectly affect the endogenous production of this steroid hormone . The most common ingredients are: Tribulus ( Tribulus terrestris ), Maca ( Lepidium meyenii ), Greek hay ( Trigonella foenum graecum ), Muira Puama ( Ptychopetalum olacoides ), Nettle ( Urtica dioica ), serrated palmetto ( Serenoa repens ) and Crisina.
Retardants for topical use
They are ointments or gel to be applied to the penis; certainly they favor the loss of sensitivity of the organ but do not show great efficacy in the treatment of premature ejaculation of psychogenic origin (the most common form). They determine a sense of local anesthesia and therefore should delay the achievement of the male orgasm. The typical composition of a delaying sexual supplement can be the following: Propylene Glycole, PEG-40 Hydrogenated oil Castor, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Oil of Eugenia Caryophyllus, Eugenol, Phenoxyethanolo, Mentholo, Ethylparaben, Methylparaben, Butylparaben and Propylparaben.
Antioxidants
Some antioxidants are used as pro-fertilizer molecules in humans; the most important is astaxanthin, a carotene (provitamin A) synthesized by some algae and naturally present in fishery products (crustaceans and fish). It has an anti-radical power 550 times greater than the vit. E (tocopherol) and its experimentation on sterile couples has brought excellent results determining an increase in conception through: the reduction of free radicals in the sperm, the increase in sperm motility, the reduction of blood levels of inhibin B (the hormone that inhibits selectively the production of Follicle Stimulating Hormone [FSH or follicle stimulating hormone] responsible for sperm production).
Sexual supplements are over-the-counter products that do not require medical prescription but which, in addition to being potentially subject to commercial fraud, often do not confer the benefit they are intended to provide; in the case of physical or psychological problems affecting the sexual sphere, it is advisable to first rely on the primary care physician and subsequently, if necessary, on a sexologist or a specialized doctor (endocrinologist, andrologist, etc.). Only these reference figures will be able to assess whether the use of sexual supplements is necessary or even simply useful to the goal.
