Male Enhancement Supplements: Are you willing to risk your career? Or your life?

Male enhancement products are everywhere; on the radio, in the newspaper, and online. Dietary supplements marketed as “a male enhancement” pose a risk to your health and eligibility if you are an athlete. A web search for “male enhancement products” will yield hundreds of hits including many products containing unlisted, and potentially life threatening, ingredients.

Multiple recalls of male enhancement products, often for containing undeclared drugs or ingredients, have occurred in 2010. Recent recalls include a large group of products from Novacare LLC (Stiff Nights, Size Matters, Erex, Mojo, etc.). These products were found to contain an analogue of Sildenafil, an approved FDA drug, that was not listed on the product labels. This could be dangerous as the drug interacts with certain prescription drugs used to treat diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease. A few days prior to this recall, Revivexxx Extra Strength was recalled for containing the undeclared drug Tadalafil, another FDA approved drug that can interact with prescription medications.

There are countless more male enhancement products that have been recalled over the last 2 years, most for containing undeclared drugs. (To find the FDA releases on these products, visit the REC Facebook page. "Like" the page to stay updated on new supplement recalls.) The FDA has issued many warnings to consumers regarding all male enhancement products because of the high probability that they contain unlisted or dangerous ingredients.

Male enhancement products have often been blamed for positive drug tests. Recently, a USATF Olympic hurdler noted he had taken ExtenZe prior to his drug test. ExtenZe lists DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone); DHEA is an anabolic agent that is commonly found in testosterone boosting products. The NCAA also recently sent out a memo specifically warning member institutions of the possibility of positive tests related to the use male enhancement products and asking that this info be passed on to student-athletes.

The REC encourages athletes to be careful when taking male enhancement dietary supplements. Many of these products pose health concerns and claim to increase your testosterone levels. In the NCAA, high testosterone levels can cause a positive drug test. The REC recommends that you do not use these products, as the risk is not worth the perceived reward.

Be aware, when considering dietary supplements: If someone can gain from your decision, check it out thoroughly before you use. Research the product you are considering and look for any peer-reviewed research that proves it can have the results it says it can. Remember, the product manufacturer is trying to market and sell their product and will use images and words that prey on your insecurities to do so.

WebMD suggests opening up to your doctor about any persistent concerns. Not only are most non-medication methods for male enhancement untested, but some are downright dangerous. Also, some problems are early warning signs of serious health problems; share your concerns with your doctor. They may be able to prescribe something that can really help or give you perspective on what “normal” is.

BE EXTRA CAUTIOUS WHEN CONSIDERING MALE ENHANCEMENT PRODUCTS. The REC recommends that you steer clear of all dietary supplements, but be especially careful of those categories that are recalled often or have been known to contain banned ingredients.

Recent recalls:
FDA MedWatch Reference Available
FDA MedWatch Reference Available
FDA MedWatch Reference Available
FDA MedWatch Reference Available
FDA MedWatch Reference Available
FDA MedWatch Reference Available
FDA MedWatch Reference Available
FDA MedWatch Reference Available

The FDA advises consumers who have experienced any negative side effects from sexual enhancement products to consult a health care professional and to safely discard the product. Consumers and health care professionals should report adverse events to the FDA's MedWatch program at 800-FDA-1088 or online. You can also contact the REC and we will submit your adverse reaction.

Check out the special PDF document on male enhancement supplements released by the FDA: http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm048386.htm