Does Viagra Make You Last Longer in Bed? | hims (2023)

Medically reviewed by Kristin Hall, FNP

Written by Our Editorial Team

Last updated 2/17/2022

Because it is thought of as a “cure-all” for sex ailments, many men turn to Viagra® (sildenafil citrate) above other treatments or erectile dysfunction drugs to conquer a classic issue: how to last long in bed.

However, Viagra may not necessarily be the best choice for treating premature ejaculation.

Does Viagra (Sildenafil) Make You Last Longer: An Overview

• There is some evidence that Viagra and other ED medications may help you last longer in bed, but options such as PE spray or masturbating before sex are more standard treatments for delaying orgasm.

• If you are having trouble lasting for an extended period of time, talk to a healthcare professional about premature ejaculation treatment options, including Viagra and delay spray.

• Does Viagra make you horny? Unfortunately, no. It also won’t prevent performance anxiety or make your penis larger.

Even for men who don’t meet the clinical definition of premature ejaculation, it’s quite common to want to improve your sexual stamina and last longer in bed.

Today, a variety of treatments are available for premature ejaculation, ranging from sprays like lidocaine-based premature ejaculation spray to techniques like the stop-start strategy, the squeeze technique and masturbating before sex.

Then, there’s Viagra. Although the "little blue pill" is designed and marketed primarily as a treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED), many men believe that taking a dose of Viagra can make it easier to last longer in bed.

Below, we’ve looked into the evidence for and against sildenafil citrate (the active ingredient in brand name Viagra) as a treatment for boosting sexual stamina and lasting longer in bed.

We’ve also listed a range of real, science-backed options for improving your sexual stamina and performance.

Can Viagra Help You Last Longer?

What viagra does is incrase the ability of blood to flow into the soft, erectile tissue and blood vessels of your penis.

This makes it easier for you to get and keep an erection. It can also give you a firmer erection that improves the sexual experience for you and your partner.

PDE5 inhibitors such as Viagra (sildenafil citrate), Cialis (tadalafil) or Levitra (vardenafil) are prescribed as treatment for premature ejaculation.

However, erectile dysfunction treatments such as Viagra likely won’t affect the amount of time that you can have sex before you ejaculate or the amount of sensitivity you experience during sex when you orgasm and ejaculate.

Despite this, there are a few interesting studies about Viagra’s effects on sexual dysfunction that are worth mentioning:

• In a small 2007 study published in the International Journal of Urology: Official Journal of the Japanese Urological Association, researchers found that sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra) was linked to an increase in ejaculation time in men affected by premature ejaculation.

• Another study from 2005 published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine found that men who used sildenafil experienced a small increase in time before ejaculation. However, the increase compared to placebo wasn’t statistically significant.

• One 2006 study published in the International Journal of Impotence Research notes that sildenafil (in comparison to other ED treatments and a placebo) proved to be more effective at treating PE.

• According to a study published in the International Journal of Impotence Research, sildenafil can reduce refractory time by several minutes. In this study, the average reduction in time was by about 9 minutes.

While these are interesting studies, they’re not enough to make Viagra a standard treatment option for increasing the amount of time you can last in bed before ejaculating. However, some providers, like hims, will still prescribe Viagra off-label to treat PE.

If you notice any results, it’s best to think of them as a bonus side effect, not as a primary effect of sildenafil.

However, there is one situation in which Viagra can definitely help you last longer in bed.

If you tend to lose your erection during sex and need to stop because you’re no longer hard, Viagra’s effects could help you have sex for longer without being affected by erectile dysfunction. On average, Viagra lasts for up to four hours after you take your dose.

In addition to having little effect on the amount of time you can last before you climax and ejaculate, Viagra also won’t boost your sex drive, prevent you from getting tired, reduce performance anxiety or make your penis larger than normal — that’s not what Viagra does.

Alternatives to Last Longer in Bed

While Viagra (sildenafil) may not be the answer to the “How to last long in bed?” question, it’s still worth considering if you’re prone to erectile dysfunction.

Luckily, there are several proven, science-backed treatments available that can help you delay ejaculation and last longer in bed.

We’ve listed these below, along with the scientific study data to back up each option.

Premature Ejaculation Spray

Studies show that lidocaine-based sprays are extremely effective as treatments for premature ejaculation. In a 2003 study published in the International Journal of Impotence Research, men with PE were able to increase their ejaculation latency from 74 seconds to 11 minutes and 21 seconds after applying a lidocaine-based spray. We offer an OTC delay spray, delivered right to your door if you want to give this PE treatment a shot.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

Certain SSRIs, such as paroxetine and sertraline, are effective at prolonging sexual activity before orgasm and treating premature ejaculation.

Sertraline (the active ingredient in Zoloft) is one of several SSRIs used to treat PE and improve sexual performance. According to a study published in the journal, Medicine, sertraline is effective at prolonging ejaculation latency time and improving rates of sexual satisfaction between patients and their partners.

Additionally, a 2007 study published in the journal, Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management, found that men with premature ejaculation who used paroxetine, fluoxetine, or escitalopram experienced reduced premature ejaculation symptoms and improved sexual performance.

Talk to a Hims provider about sertraline for PE and paroxetine for PE.

Non-Pharmaceutical Treatments

Beyond medications such as lidocaine and sertraline, there are several ways to increase your time before ejaculation and improve your sexual performance without using drugs. These include simple techniques like masturbating before sex or behavioral therapy. Hims even offers an online counseling platform for you to check out therapy from the comfort of home.

Our guide to stopping premature ejacul​​​​ation covers these approaches in more detail, with scientific data to back up each treatment option.

Lasting Longer in Bed

Does Viagra make you last longer in bed? There isn’t a clear answer either way.

While results may appear promising, there is not enough evidence to sufficiently name Viagra as a standard premature ejaculation treatment.

If you are looking to simply maintain an erection for a longer period of time, ED medications such as Viagra could be the option for you.

Want to learn more? Learn about the differences between Viagra and Cialis, your options for premature ejaculation pills and the available premature ejaculation treatments.