27 / 09 / 2026
5 Minute Read

Viagra: Why are more and more young men turning to the "blue pill"?

 

This week, my daily reading led me to a research article that really caught my attention. It discussed the exponential rise in the use of the blue pill among men aged 18 to 40. Also, a study from 2025 reports that approximately 35% of men in this age group experience erectile problems.The article struck a chord with me because the demographic Viagra seems to attract today is not the one for which the drug was originally intended. I wanted to learn a bit more about the subject, so here is a summary of this phenomenon; one that, strangely enough, has made Viagra a staple for some men...

 

What is Viagra?

It goes by the names Sildenafil, Cialis, virility drug / anti-impotence drug, or even the blue pill. Viagra is a medication containing the active ingredient sildenafil. The blue pill is neither an aphrodisiac nor a hormone; rather, it is designed to treat erectile dysfunction (the inability to achieve or maintain an erection firm enough for sexual activity). By relaxing the blood vessels in the penis, the pill allows blood to flow into the area when a man is sexually stimulated. Sexual stimulation is required for Viagra to work; it does not cause an erection on its own.

 

Why is the profile of Viagra users changing?

Historically, Viagra was prescribed to older men (generally over 40) suffering from erectile dysfunction caused by aging or underlying conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or hypertension. As erectile dysfunction becomes more common with age, it affects approximately 40% of men at age 40 and up to 70% by age 70.

In recent years, however, the profile of blue pill users has shifted to include young, healthy men (including those in their twenties and thirties). Why? Well, most of them use Viagra to overcome performance anxiety experienced with a new partner. Others take the blue pill because they want to boost their confidence in bed. Interestingly, numerous studies show that "performance" pressure tends to stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, which actually inhibits erections and creates a vicious cycle of anxiety. A 2024 study revealed that 39% of men under the age of 40 had tried a product to enhance erections, with 56% of them citing performance anxiety as the reason.

Easy access to Viagra is certainly a significant factor in this phenomenon. While the blue pill was available only by prescription just a few years ago, it can now be obtained without a prescription in many European countries. In Switzerland, for instance, it is possible to purchase Viagra without a prescription in doses of up to 25mg (though this rule can obviously be easily circumvented by visiting different pharmacies in succession to obtain the desired Viagra dosage). The rise of telemedicine services has also made it easy for healthy young men to obtain legitimate prescriptions after a simple phone call, even without any clinical need.

Another group of young men also turns to Viagra: those wishing to counteract the effects of party drugs like MDMA, ecstasy, or amphetamines. These substances stimulate sexual desire but make achieving an erection nearly impossible; the blue pill is then used to offset this side effect.

Others, such as bodybuilding enthusiasts or those addicted to optimizing their physical appearance (Looksmaxxing) use anabolic steroids; they may suffer from erectile dysfunction as a side effect and turn to Viagra to remedy it.

But let’s be realistic: doesn't the real problem lie (once again) in the influence of the media? As I have often pointed out on this blog, it is clear that pornography and dating apps foster unrealistic expectations and a sense of needing Viagra to be sexually "operational" at all times, driving many young men to view the blue pill as a safety net. In my opinion, this also partially explains why young men are having less and less sex. Instead of trying to alleviate the issue, the media seems to fuel and amplify it, turning Gen Z and Millennial men into individuals plagued by perpetual anxiety and a lack of self-confidence and self-esteem. Simply put, they are men who are forever searching for themselves without ever finding their place in society. And because they never seem to find themselves, a lasting relationship with a partner is often a lost cause from the start...

 

Viagra: Side effects and risks associated with use by young men

I do not claim to be a doctor, but I feel it is necessary to remind young men who regularly use Viagra without medical necessity (and especially without medical supervision) of the various risks associated with this blue pill.

In addition to common side effects (headaches, facial flushing, indigestion, nasal congestion, and vision problems), healthy young men can experience dangerous drops in blood pressure that may lead to fainting. Furthermore, combining Viagra with alcohol or recreational drugs can dangerously intensify this drop in blood pressure. It is also important to know that the blue pill can cause priapism (a prolonged erection), a condition that constitutes a medical emergency. Indeed, an erection lasting more than four hours can lead to irreversible damage to penile tissue and even impotence if not treated immediately.

 

Viagra: What men should know

Having navigated in the adult industry for many years now, I can state that there is in real life, a dichotomy between the sexual expectations men believe, women have of them and the sexual expectations women believe men have of them. In most cases, these mutual expectations are far removed from the narratives found in the virtual world.

Gentlemen, using Viagra recreationally can lead to a loss of confidence in your natural erectile abilities, creating a psychological reliance on the blue pill to perform. And if you are really experiencing erectile difficulties, consider consulting a healthcare professional or reach out to a sex therapist. They can help determine if there is an underlying physical or psychological cause: you will be surprised to hear that more often than not, the appropriate treatment does not involve medication...

 

Janet – The Velvet Rooms

 

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