Men are concerned about penis size and sexual stamina. After all, it is biologically sound why men would like to last longer in bed: The longer and steady the rhythm, better the chances of the woman achieving an orgasm and help propel the sperm towards the egg, thus ensuring the man’s genes are propagated. However, issues with size are merely a matter of preference. The length from vaginal opening to cervix, as well as the circumference of vaginal walls, differ from woman to woman (anal cavity size differ from man to man as well). The unfortunate thing is men and women can be cruel and like to point out the shortcomings of others. As a result, many companies have tried to capitalize on this dent in the male ego. These companies have offered a cavalcade of products to quell the male worry that some other guy is bigger, thicker, harder, or can last longer.

Though they are perfectly capable of getting an erection, some men just want a boost to their performance. To fulfill this unmet need, some companies have offered a non-prescription male enhancement pill, such as Enzyte and VigRX plus. Unfortunately, these pills don’t actually enhance anything, except their manufacturer’s bottom line. It seems the snake oil salesmen of old are alive and well in the “male enhancement” business.

The manufacturer of Enzyte was sentenced to 25 years in prison for advertising fraud. He was also fined $93 million and had to give up $459 million of personal and company assets to the government. Ten other employees were also sentenced to jail time for their participation in the perpetuation of the fraud as well. Of course these rulings are being appealed, but the fact still stands that the product does not work.

Enzyte contains a variety of ingredients that are supposed to improve erectile function; however, this claim is extremely misleading. Many of the ingredients have failed to demonstrate effective results in scientific studies. These ingredients and their enhancement claims are listed and debunked below:

• Red ginseng has been shown to treat male erectile dysfunction in one study, but this study only included 45 men with diagnosed erectile dysfunction.

• Ginkgo biloba leaf helps improve blood flow according to some research, while other studies do not show any effects.

• Pine bark extract helps prevent blood vessels from becoming smaller and inflexible, though not medically proven or tested on a large sample.

• Tribulus terrestris extract is supposed to increase sex drive by raising the level of sex hormones in the body but research has shown that these hormones remain at normal levels.

• L-arginine is one of the most common amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. It is involved in the release of hormones and improves circulation, and helps with the production of sperm and improves their mobility. In order for it to work as an effective ED supplement, it needs to be taken in conjunction with yohimbine (an “aphrodisiac) and proanthocyanidin (found in plants), neither which have been proven to increase sexual stamina.

• Avena sativa extract comes from wild oats, and supposedly provide energizing sexual effects on men and women by releasing bound-up testosterone; however, there are no scientific studies that prove this point.

• Horny goat weed extract comes from a type of flowering plant known as Epimedium that has a reputation as an aphrodisiac. A study using the horny goat weed extract may cause erections in rats (but not in humans).

• Maca root, a root grown in the Andes mountains, has demonstrated improved libido and semen quality in normal men in small studies, but no research has been done among men with infertility problems.

• Muira Puama extract, or potency wood, comes from a flowering plant in the Amazon rain forest. It is said to be a sexual dysfunction treatment, but there is no sufficient research to prove this claim.

• Octacosanol comes from wheat germ oil and shows evidence of increasing physical endurance.

• Saw Palmetto berry is known for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is when the prostate is enlarged. While some men in the study experienced erectile dysfunction issues, saw palmetto is used as an aphrodisiac in small amounts.

• Swedish pollen extract, also known as cernilton, is another extract that is used to treat BPH.        

• Niacin, which is also known as vitamin B3, is important in the prevention of pellagra, a vitamin deficiency disease. It is a water-soluble vitamin that helps lower cholesterol in the blood and decrease the chance of a repeat heart attack occurring in people who previous had a heart attack. It may increase stamina but it’s utilized more for heart health.

• Zinc oxide, part of a common antidote for the common cold, is a metallic chemical compound that contains the metal zinc. Zinc is a necessary mineral in the human body for reproductive organ development and prostate function. No study has shown increased dosages of zinc leads to better performance in bed.

• Copper oxide, is another metallic chemical compound, one that contains the essential element copper. Copper metal is an important component of enzymes, a molecule in the body that helps speed up chemical reactions, although none have been proven to speed up the process of chemical reactions to induce sexual stamina.

Some of these ingredients have reputations for enhancing sexual prowess. Clinical research has not supported these reputations, which means that there is no real proof that they work. Enzyte is not the only non-prescription male enhancement drug on the market, but it might be the most well-known now. There are many other products that offer the same results.

Endowmax offers to "enlarge, expand, and strengthen your penis!" It even provides a 100 percent satisfaction or your money back guaranteed.

Expand, another natural male enhancement product, is promoted as a "revolutionary non-prescription herbal supplement" that is "the most effective and safest natural alternative to prescription drugs or surgery." None of this is true of course, as it has the same ingredients as Enzyte.

Maxoderm, a non-prescription drug cream that can be taken instead of pills, is applied directly to the penis and supposedly relaxes the blood vessels so more blood can flow into the penis. The Maxoderm ad states that "consumers report they LITERALLY START FEELING IT in under 60 seconds," IT being any number of things from burning, itchiness, and if the penis is made to stretch beyond its normal size, definitely some pain. In other words, if you don’t feel pain it’s not working. And if you do, it might be an allergic reaction to the chemicals from the cream.

Despite these attention-getting claims, men need to be satisfied with what they have, as it' not the size of the wave but the motion of the ocean that's important! Besides, the only true way of enhancing the size of a man’s package is through surgery, which doesn’t come highly recommended due to surgical and post-op complications.

If a man is experiencing erectile dysfunction issues, he should visit a medical professional for an evaluation. Most people are aware of the prescription drugs Viagra, Levitra, and Cialis, all of which offer a solution to male erectile dysfunction. However, some men fear going to their doctors and admitting that they need some help in the erection department. Unfortunately, this aversion to professional medical attention opens the door for con artists and their bogus penile enhancement products. If a man is experiencing erectile dysfunction issues, he should visit a medical professional for an evaluation and not seek male enhancement pills as a substitute. Trust in science; it’s come a long way.