Most Men think they know some things about erectile dysfunction (ED). It may be that you even deal with it yourself. You may already be using an ED pharmaceutical like Viagra, Cialis or Levitra through an online pharmacy, but how much do you really know about those drugs and why you're taking them? Take this quick test to learn more, and to see how many of the ideas and notions you may already have are correct.



1) True or false: ED drugs like Levitra, Viagra, and Cialis help a man achieve an erection by increasing the flow of blood to the penis, causing it to harden.

True. Viagra, for instance, belongs to a class of drugs called “PDE5 inhibitors.” It works by increasing blood flow to the penis to improve erectile function. The active ingredient in Levitra works on the chain of events that occurs in the penis during arousal, when two large chambers in a man's penis fill with blood.

2) True or false: A major cause of ED is poor blood flow and constricted blood vessels, often caused by smoking cigarettes.

True. Cigarette smoking, and the nicotine in that smoke, can cause blood vessels to tighten and narrow, thereby interrupting or slowing blood flow. Since an erection is caused by blood flow to the penis, cigarette smoking is widely believed to be a cause of ED, and some anti-tobacco public relations and government anti-smoking campaigns even graphically depict how this happens.

3) True or false: It's normal for an erection to last four hours or more.

False. If you thought it was true, you must be some kind of masochist or a porn star in waiting. This condition is called priapism, and, while quite rare, can happen with the use of some ED drugs. If you have an erection that lasts this long, you need to get medical attention ASAP.

4) True or false: All online pharmacies are legitimate and sell only high quality products.

False. Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth. There are online pharmacies around the world, especially outside America, that sell absolute garbage. I've even heard stories about how, in one country, the Viagra is nothing more than a placebo dyed blue in a cement mixer. You should ask some questions when you are ordering through an online pharmacy, such as: Where are you people located? (they should tell you) Do I have to give some medical information before you will give me a prescription? (the answer should always be yes) How long have you been in business? Are the ED pharmaceuticals you deal in guaranteed to be 100% authentic and not some type of counterfeit rip-off? Can I check you through the Better Business Bureau? What kind of safeguards do you have in place for my credit information? Do you have a street address somewhere that can be verified? There are numerous ways you can be sure that the online pharmacy you are dealing with is a reputable and established one, like www.edrugstore.md.

In the end, knowledge is power. You should find out as much as you can about ED, what types of drugs will be best for your situation, and which online pharmacies are the most reputable. It's not just a matter of getting ripped off financially. Your health could be at stake.