What began as a fast repair to enhance his sexual efficiency was a medical emergency for Sizwe Mthembu (42) in November 2025. After taking two intercourse enhancer tablets he purchased for R15 from a avenue vendor on Victoria Avenue in Durban, he developed a protracted and painful erection that lasted greater than 24 hours.
“I used to be terrified,” he says. “That’s after I went to a health care provider and was identified with priapism, a situation I didn’t know something about earlier than.”
Dr Ntlotleng Mabena, a medical practitioner, explains that taking such tablets with out correct medical evaluation will be particularly dangerous for people with underlying well being circumstances or these taking different drugs.
These merchandise can lead to issues akin to extreme complications, dizziness, dangerously low blood stress, and, in some instances, a protracted erection often known as priapism, which requires pressing medical consideration.
“Priapism is attributable to excessive dosages of those unregulated tablets. When somebody experiences this type of erection, blood circulate is restricted, stopping oxygen from reaching tissues. Over time, this may trigger tissue harm,” she explains.
Some speedy at-home treatments for priapism embrace stopping any sexual stimulation, strolling round, or making use of an ice pack to the interior thighs (however indirectly on the genitals) to chill out blood vessels. Nonetheless, if these strategies don’t work and the erection persists for 4 hours or extra, it’s essential to hunt medical assist instantly.
“These tablets are harmful as a result of we have no idea how they’re made or what dosages they comprise,” she says. “Typically producers use excessively excessive or low dosages, which may result in severe issues akin to strokes or coronary heart assaults.”
Growing demand
Mthembu hasn’t used any sexual efficiency enhancers since. However others swear by these merchandise.
At spaza retailers, taxi ranks and casual markets, males often buy merchandise that promise enhanced sexual efficiency.
Mbongeni Mazibuko (52) tells Well being-e Information that he started utilizing intercourse enhancement tablets 4 years in the past after beginning a relationship with a girl half his age.
“I wished to carry out higher and never lose her. I used to purchase these tablets for R20 to R30 every from a avenue vendor at Durban Station each time I knew she was going to go to me,” he says. “The outcomes have been wonderful; I might obtain an erection that lasted longer than earlier than.”
However Mazibuko’s story didn’t have a cheerful ending.
“All the things modified when she discovered the tablets and confronted me; that’s when she broke up with me.”
Pharmacist Nomzamo Matosse says many male clients continuously request sexual enhancement merchandise with out prescriptions or correct medical steerage. She explains that unregulated intercourse tablets can result in severe uncomfortable side effects resulting from unknown substances, which can generally be current in excessive doses.
“In lots of instances, clients come to the pharmacy looking for stronger enhancers as a result of they declare that natural or pure merchandise they tried didn’t work,” she says.
Dennis Friday, who owns a spaza store within the Embo space, confirms that he sells these merchandise and that demand is especially excessive from Friday to Monday. He says common merchandise embrace Crimson Cobra and penis-shaped cobra tablets.
He claims that the majority of his clients, usually aged between their early thirties and late fifties, appear to be well-informed about the best way to use the tablets, together with their directions and potential uncomfortable side effects. Nonetheless, he says that clients hardly ever ask questions on security when buying these merchandise.
Though he wouldn’t disclose the place he sources the tablets, Friday insists that the merchandise he sells are regulated.
The South African Well being Merchandise Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) didn’t reply to our enquiries, however has beforehand warned shoppers to not purchase illicit and harmful sexual enhancer medicines bought on-line, at well being retailers, retail pharmacies and markets. Medicines akin to Viagra, Dynafll, and Avigra are authorised by SAHPRA and have to be prescribed by a health care provider.
Regardless of the dangers, some customers proceed to depend on these merchandise. Sthembiso Mlaba* (42) from KwaNyuswa, weighing 102 kg, says he makes use of these merchandise sometimes to make sure his weight doesn’t impede his sexual efficiency. The merchandise he makes use of embrace a liquid substance that he applies to his genitals.
“I ensure I comply with directions, though I purchase from completely different distributors,” he says. “I haven’t skilled any issues thus far.”
Matosse emphasised that what could appear to be a fast answer might result in severe long-term penalties; she urged the general public to hunt skilled medical recommendation and keep away from unregulated intercourse tablets, warning that sexual well being must be approached with correct care, not fast fixes.
However why take the chance?
Medical psychologist Anele Siswana says the rising use of unregulated intercourse tablets can be pushed by psychological and social pressures. Many males really feel pressured to fulfill unrealistic expectations about sexual efficiency.
“Persons are navigating a tradition that equates sexual efficiency with value, masculinity, and success,” he says.
He provides that reliance on intercourse tablets can result in psychological dependency, efficiency nervousness, and decreased self-confidence.
“When somebody begins to depend on a tablet to really feel succesful, it may well erode their confidence and create the assumption that they can’t carry out with out it,” he explains. – Well being-e Information
*Not his actual title
