Q. Because of recurring difficulties in getting an erection, my doctor has prescribed Viagra for me. However, I’m worried that the pill would cause me to have erections at inconvenient times, causing me embarrassment. Is that a realistic concern?
A. You needn’t worry that you’ll start having spontaneous erections once you begin taking Viagra. The drug doesn’t work that way. You will still need to get your erections the old-fashioned way, either as a result of feelings of sexual desire or physical stimuli to your penis or other erogenous zones. Sildenafil citrate, the active ingredient in Viagra, works by temporarily improving blood flow to the penis, which facilitates the erection process. But that surge of blood toward the penis probably isn’t going to get started until your brain gets signals from elsewhere in the body that sexual activity is imminent.