"Natural" erection pills contain dangerous chemicals, study finds
Pills marketed as “100 percent natural” erection aids are, in reality, filled with chemicals, some of which are found in pharmaceutical-grade medication, a recent investigation revealed. The study, conducted in collaboration with the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Utrecht University, uncovered that the pills contain substances as potent as those in prescription-strength erectile dysfunction medications like Viagra.
One of the pills, Vyagra, sold online for much less than its pharmaceutical counterpart, claims to be based on natural ingredients from the Far East. However, it was found to contain nearly 1.5 times the active ingredient of the strongest prescription Viagra. The pill also included an unexpected dose of the painkiller diclofenac.
Another pill, Bull7, which was marketed as being based on “ancient Chinese herbs,” was found to contain 100 mg of sildenafil and 25 mg of tadalafil, both potent active ingredients commonly used in prescription erectile dysfunction treatments. “This is extremely strong, I’m shocked by the dosage,” said Renske van Gestel, a professor of pharmaceutical sciences at Utrecht University. “I wouldn't even give Bull7 to a bull. This violates all drug laws.”
These pills, which were sold as dietary supplements, contained chemical substances that are typically found in regulated pharmaceutical products. According to Van Gestel, men are typically prescribed 25 or 50 mg of sildenafil for erectile issues, with a maximum of 100 mg in rare cases. However, Bull7 contained a combination of sildenafil and tadalafil, which are never prescribed together. “Taking both is like taking multiple Viagra pills at once, leading to a serious risk of side effects,” she explained.
Erection pills work by widening blood vessels, which can be dangerous for men with heart conditions or high blood pressure. Urologist Bart van Bezooijen of the Dutch Association for Urology said that his hospital sees five to ten cases per year where men suffer from painful, prolonged erections as a result of taking these pills. “Sometimes we can’t save them, and the damage to the penis tissue is irreversible, leaving the patient unable to ever get an erection again,” Van Bezooijen said.
The study found that two of the four pills purchased from bol.com, Vyagra and Bull7, contained the active ingredients typically found in medical-grade erectile dysfunction treatments. Two others, Libi for Me and Libido Performa, did not contain these substances.
This issue is not new. In 2015, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) investigated 42 natural libido-enhancing products, finding that 75 percent contained illegal substances. Despite this, the problem has persisted, with many sellers continuing to market such products without proper regulation.
Andreas*, who sold natural erection pills on bol.com, admitted to buying pills from a British wholesaler that were packaged in Spain and sold without knowing their true contents. “I sold about 1,000 packages per month,” he said. “I had no idea what was actually in them. I didn’t want to risk someone’s life by selling these pills.”
Catharina de Jong, an anesthesiologist with the Dutch Quackery Prevention Association, said that the creators of these pills know the herbs don’t work, so they add pharmaceutical drugs. “It’s clear that the makers are fully aware that the herbs won’t work, so they put actual medications in the pills,” she said.
The seller of Vyagra, a small business, was shocked by the findings of the study, claiming that it was not their intention to include pharmaceutical drugs. “I didn’t know,” said the seller, who had chosen the name Vyagra as a play on the well-known Viagra brand. Despite selling the pills at a low price, they experienced better-than-expected sales, reportedly indicating a lack of market regulation. The seller buys the pills from a foreign wholesaler but refused to disclose the supplier.
The seller of Bull7 had already suspended sales after receiving complaints from customers. "Some buyers reported feeling unwell after taking the pills, so we decided to halt the sale," the seller explained. "Customer safety is our priority."
Bol.com, the platform through which these pills were sold, has temporarily removed the entire category of “natural erection pills” from its marketplace. The company stated that it does not take responsibility for products sold by third-party vendors but has promised to review its policies. “Given the findings, we will reconsider our policies and enforcement of this product category,” a bol.com spokesperson said. “We will also explore a recall action.”
The NVWA, aware of the issue, admitted its challenges in regulating such products. “The producers are often based outside Europe, making our oversight difficult. In many cases, it’s impossible to track where these products are stored,” a spokesperson said.
