Ask the guy who gets paid to have sex

[panache45]

@Ulf_the_Unwashed

As I think I mentioned, the other big question I get is whether I have been in a monogamous relationship for at least 6 months. (Whoops, not quite true: a monogamous HETEROSEXUAL relationship. Unfair, but there you are.)

Yes, I did qualify for one study, until I told them that my relationship was not heterosexual. The interviewer said she didn’t know the reason for the disqualification, but it might have to do with consistency. We both agreed that if they wanted consistency, they should separate cut from uncut.

Did they ever ask you whether you’ve been circumcised?

[fjs1fs]

@Lemur866

A rentboy is a boy you can rent. “Boy” in the expansive sense, not a minor, just a young guy. Like callgirls don’t need to be underage.

Sure, not a minor, right!

[Curious3d]

I’ve heard that ED drugs can affect vision. Blue tint, blurry. That’s a nervewracking side effect, which I assume are the result of increased bloodflow.

Have you ever experienced any anomalies with your vision?

[Ulf_the_Unwashed]

@surrounded_by_literalists

Warning… Girl in the room!

First of all, Ulf, I have to say I am impressed with your candor and your willingness to share with strangers in order to help others. I know you get paid and all that, but I know for a fact that a large number of men don’t have the ‘balls’ to admit to a problem even to themselves. Bravo, I award you an honorary stiffy for bravery.

Now I wonder, if the gentlemen don’t mind my presence, if you have tried a combination of ‘methods’. Your description above of achieving an erection but unable to sustain it makes me think than maybe the medication with a <ahem> ‘cock ring’ might complete the picture of having and keeping the old boy at full throttle, at least until Mrs. Ulf is happy. Just between us Dopers, I have found a silk or velvet hair scrunchie around the base can be extremely helpful to Mr. Surrounded when he has had one beer too many.

Are these researchers also keeping track of your vision, hearing and kidney function?

I have to mention that my BIL works for a large phamaceutical company that produces penile implants. Once when he was visiting we all went out for dinner and he was telling us about his work and the new technology they were just about to implement, when the manager came over and asked us to leave because our inappropriate conversation was bothering other people. We were discussing the implants and their issues and improvements, but it wasn’t a lewd or crude type of conversation. As a matter of fact, we were speaking in lower tones and we used a number of discreet euphamisms in order to accomodate for our surroundings, but just the very mention of the subject got sombodys panties in a wad. Ever since then I am dedicated to helping others GET OVER THEMSELVES ALREADY.

Girl in the room??! Ack! --No, you’re very welcome here.

Thanks much for the kind words, and especially for the honorary stiffy. Love the penile implant story. If you were using euphemisms and keeping your voices low, I have to wonder–how did those other diners know what you were talking about, hm? OMIGOD SHE SAID ‘EQUIPMENT’ AND WE ALL KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS ARREST THEM NOW Like the lady who wanted the cops to arrest the guy who walked past her house each morning because he whistled dirty songs.

I have tried a cock ring in the past, with mixed results. The one I had was a bit tricky to put on and seemed to interfere somewhat with sensation. But maybe I’ll try it again. Now to find a scrunchy…

[Ulf_the_Unwashed]

@panache45

Yes, I did qualify for one study, until I told them that my relationship was not heterosexual. The interviewer said she didn’t know the reason for the disqualification, but it might have to do with consistency. We both agreed that if they wanted consistency, they should separate cut from uncut.

Did they ever ask you whether you’ve been circumcised?

I would hazard a guess that consistency is what they’re after. If they define “success” as vaginal penetration, that might not translate directly to penetration ofa vagina-less partner–might need more hardness or less hardness or something, which would mean that the results wouldn’t be directly comparable. Seems to me that my coordinators did recently put out a call for gay men to be involved in an ED study (and about time too IMHO)…I’ll try to find out details about this at my next appointment.

No, they never asked whether I was circumcised. OTOH, I have had a physical exam at the beginning of a few of these studies, and while the exams were–well, not exactly thorough, they did ask me to drop trou (and underwear), so they should’ve been able to tell.

[Ulf_the_Unwashed]

@Curious3d

I’ve heard that ED drugs can affect vision. Blue tint, blurry. That’s a nervewracking side effect, which I assume are the result of increased bloodflow.

Have you ever experienced any anomalies with your vision?

I’ve certainly been told about this possibility, especially for Viagra (I think). This particular warning is usually much less strident than the one about how I MIGHT GET A FOUR HOUR ERECTION!!!

Fortunately, my vision doesn’t seem to be affected by any of the drugs. I have no interest in having blurry vision. As for blue tint, it might be trippy at first but would soon lose its luster. “Darling! I LOOOVE your blue hair, your blue nose, your blue fingers, your blue breasts, your blue–” Actually, my sweetheart has Raynaud’s [did I spell this right?] syndrome, so her extremeties do have a tendency to turn blue-ish under certain circumstances. (Not, generally, while in bed with me, however.)

Oh, and I realize I forgot to respond to part of surrounded by literalist’s post. No, they don’t monitor my vision or hearing, though I suppose they might if I developed problems (more likely they’d just kick me out of the study). Kidney function could be included in some of the blood tests, but I must confess I don’t know much about what they’re testing the blood for. By the way, I’ve never heard (ha!) that there might be an issue with hearing when on these medications. Do you know something they’re not telling me!!!

[Ulf_the_Unwashed]

@rachelellogram

Very interesting, that you can still have orgasms without the erection. Have you ever considered getting a… for lack of a better work, inflatable implant? I’ve seen them used for transpeople who undergo female to male sexual reassignment. Pump it up and go. I’m not sure whether this can or should be done with an organ that is still sensate, though.

Hmm. My knowledge of these devices is really, really limited. My extremely vague impression is that when it is recommended for men-born-men, it’s limited to men who have no erectile function at all–which isn’t my case. Anyway, I have never considered it, neither has anyone in the medical field suggested it as a possibility for me. Certainly it would be more, um, invasive than the medication. Thanks for asking.

[gaffa]

@Ulf_the_Unwashed

Hmm. My knowledge of these devices is really, really limited. My extremely vague impression is that when it is recommended for men-born-men, it’s limited to men who have no erectile function at all–which isn’t my case. Anyway, I have never considered it, neither has anyone in the medical field suggested it as a possibility for me. Certainly it would be more, um, invasive than the medication. Thanks for asking.

I used to run a VHS duplication facility, and one of our clients performed that surgery and needed copies of an instructional video. But Viagra and other ED drugs made such a drastic step became unnecessary for the vast majority.