# Do erectile dysfunction pills work for persons who just want to masturbate alone? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 4, 2015, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-erectile-dysfunction-pills-work-for-persons-who-just-want-to-masturbate-alone/736659 "2015-11-04T23:04:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-erectile-dysfunction-pills-work-for-persons-who-just-want-to-masturbate-alone/736659/1 "2015-11-04T23:04:49Z")
The TV ads for erectile dysfunction medications all show couples. Do erectile dysfunction pills work for persons who just want to masturbate alone? ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-erectile-dysfunction-pills-work-for-persons-who-just-want-to-masturbate-alone/736659/2 "2015-11-04T23:19:59Z")
They increase bloodflow to the penis so they should. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-erectile-dysfunction-pills-work-for-persons-who-just-want-to-masturbate-alone/736659/3 "2015-11-04T23:23:53Z")
Yes, although it’s worth noting that ED is less of an impediment to mastubation than it is to PIV, it depends on the severity. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-erectile-dysfunction-pills-work-for-persons-who-just-want-to-masturbate-alone/736659/4 "2015-11-05T00:16:28Z")
Why in the world wouldn’t they? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-erectile-dysfunction-pills-work-for-persons-who-just-want-to-masturbate-alone/736659/5 "2015-11-05T00:23:39Z")
They probably work for people who want to masturbate in a group also. ---
**Author:** ![Pantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3bc359/32.png) [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-erectile-dysfunction-pills-work-for-persons-who-just-want-to-masturbate-alone/736659/6 "2015-11-05T00:25:22Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > They increase bloodflow to the penis so they should. Really they increase blood flow in general, there’s nothing that targets any particular body part. Viagra was originally developed to treat high blood pressure and some other heart disease conditions, and the effect on erections was reported as a side effect, though someone quickly realized that it could be a main effect. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-erectile-dysfunction-pills-work-for-persons-who-just-want-to-masturbate-alone/736659/7 "2015-11-05T00:28:55Z")
If you take an ED med and become aroused, you should get an erection, period. Who you are or aren’t with at the time is fairly irrelevant. Arousal is the key. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-erectile-dysfunction-pills-work-for-persons-who-just-want-to-masturbate-alone/736659/8 "2015-11-05T03:05:03Z")
If you are able to masturbate for more than 4 hours, you should contact your physician. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-erectile-dysfunction-pills-work-for-persons-who-just-want-to-masturbate-alone/736659/9 "2015-11-05T03:38:02Z")
I suspect you might have a hard time (er…sorry) getting the doctor to give you a scrip, though… ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-erectile-dysfunction-pills-work-for-persons-who-just-want-to-masturbate-alone/736659/10 "2015-11-05T03:53:05Z")
> [@Kamino\_Neko](#): > > I suspect you might have a hard time (er…sorry) getting the doctor to give you a scrip, though… Why? ---
**Author:** ![I.Dunno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9f8e36/32.png) [@I.Dunno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I.Dunno)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-erectile-dysfunction-pills-work-for-persons-who-just-want-to-masturbate-alone/736659/11 "2015-11-05T05:02:54Z")
> [@Kamino\_Neko](#): > > I suspect you might have a hard time (er…sorry) getting the doctor to give you a scrip, though… Why indeed? My MD didn’t ask me how I intended to use it. And yes, if it works for you, it will certainly work to masturbate. As someone above said, arousal is the key. ---
**Author:** ![Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emtar_KronJonDerSohn)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-erectile-dysfunction-pills-work-for-persons-who-just-want-to-masturbate-alone/736659/12 "2015-11-05T05:38:33Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > If you are able to masturbate for more than 4 hours, you should contact your physician. Backup? ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-erectile-dysfunction-pills-work-for-persons-who-just-want-to-masturbate-alone/736659/13 "2015-11-05T06:35:59Z")
> [@Pantastic](#): > > Really they increase blood flow in general, there’s nothing that targets any particular body part. Viagra was originally developed to treat high blood pressure … That doesn’t make sense – increasing blood flow would seem to _increase_ blood pressure. Are you sure it wasn’t low blood pressure? ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-erectile-dysfunction-pills-work-for-persons-who-just-want-to-masturbate-alone/736659/14 "2015-11-05T10:05:19Z")
It’s not necessary to have an erection to masturbate or reach orgasm. So there wouldn’t be much point. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-erectile-dysfunction-pills-work-for-persons-who-just-want-to-masturbate-alone/736659/15 "2015-11-05T11:44:58Z")
> [@Kamino\_Neko](#): > > I suspect you might have a hard time (er…sorry) getting the doctor to give you a scrip, though… This thread bent in a direction I didn’t expect. mmm ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-erectile-dysfunction-pills-work-for-persons-who-just-want-to-masturbate-alone/736659/16 "2015-11-05T12:07:27Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > It’s not necessary to have an erection to masturbate or reach orgasm. So there wouldn’t be much point. If you really see no qualitative difference between masturbating while erect and flapping your limp dick around like a rubber chicken, then… I’m sorry. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-erectile-dysfunction-pills-work-for-persons-who-just-want-to-masturbate-alone/736659/17 "2015-11-05T12:19:30Z")
That’s disgusting. Oh sorry… I thought you said **in** a rubber chicken. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-erectile-dysfunction-pills-work-for-persons-who-just-want-to-masturbate-alone/736659/18 "2015-11-05T15:09:58Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > If you are able to masturbate for more than 4 hours, you should contact your physician. Why, is she hot? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-erectile-dysfunction-pills-work-for-persons-who-just-want-to-masturbate-alone/736659/19 "2015-11-05T15:14:35Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > That doesn’t make sense – increasing blood flow would seem to _increase_ blood pressure. Are you sure it wasn’t low blood pressure? Viagra is a vasodilator. It relaxes the walls of the arteries which allows blood to flow better. Hypertension is a problem because it stretches the walls of the arteries. Vasodilation allows adequate blood flow at a lower blood pressure. > [@Rigamarole](#): > > It’s not necessary to have an erection to masturbate or reach orgasm. Maybe not absolutely necessary, but unless you’re very unusual it sure helps. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-erectile-dysfunction-pills-work-for-persons-who-just-want-to-masturbate-alone/736659/20 "2015-11-05T15:19:12Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Viagra is a vasodilator. It relaxes the walls of the arteries which allows blood to flow better. Hypertension is a problem because it stretches the walls of the arteries. Vasodilation allows adequate blood flow at a lower blood pressure. > > Maybe not absolutely necessary, but unless you’re very unusual it sure helps. Boy, you Mods sure know everything > [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Why, is she hot? Maybe HE is. I would guess that some gay guys have been prescribed Viagra. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-erectile-dysfunction-pills-work-for-persons-who-just-want-to-masturbate-alone/736659.md?page=2)