In a country where cultural taboos often shroud discussions on sexuality, an increasing number of Nigerian women rely on the unregulated market of enhancers commonly known as ‘Kayamata,’ for heightened sexual pleasure and satisfaction. Gom Mirian spoke with users, sellers and medical experts who shared their experiences with her and has put all together in this interesting report.
Sex is a beautiful thing and many can attest to it. According to The Penguin Atlas of Human Sexual Behavior, sex occurs 120 million times a day, meaning 240 million people have sex daily (roughly). The body has been naturally wired to respond to sexual desires and respond to sexual acts among partners. Sex is known to be a Medicine Net “>proven stressbuster that elevates your mood instantly.
Some people like to take sexual pleasure several notches higher, so they turn to sex enhancers for the extras. This reliance on ‘help’ is widely done by men and women. When a man goes to the local suya (meat roasted over an open fire) seller with a female companion in the evenings, the suya seller probably would signal to him if he wants the meat ‘spiced up” for sexual action, or not. It is that easy. However, women are getting more daring, hence the increasingly patronage of ‘kayamata, a hausa word which loosely translates to ‘things belonging to women.’ Kayamata could be locally made or imported, or a mix of both. The local ones are made from a combination of natural herbs, spices and oils to increase libido, improve sexual performance and enhance pleasure.
These products are sold both online and in physical stores, with a wide range of products to choose from, including powders, creams and even necklaces and bracelets, but the unregulated nature of the Kayamata market makes it difficult to determine the safety and purity of these products.
”It gives me more pleasure” – Judith
Judith, as she simply identified herself, spoke with African Health Report (AHR) who approached her in a store where she was buying kayamata in Wuse Market. She declared that the products have improved her sexual experience, though she does not know much about their ingredients or potential side effects.
“I don’t know what’s in it, but it works. I feel more sexual and it gives me more pleasure,” she said.
“I used to use Scorpion (one of the brands of the aphrodisiacs) syrup before, but it is no longer effective for me again, so I got an alternative brand to combine them for the required outcomes today,” she added with enthusiasm.
But for another user, who wished to remain anonymous, the desired outcome was not achieved.
“I was curious and wanted to spice things up in the bedroom. I purchased a sexual enhancer from a local seller, but little did I know the risks I was exposing myself to. I can’t really tell if it worked or not because I still performed normally, but some friends told me it has been working for them.”
“Customers Come To Us”
Many of the sellers of unregulated sex enhancers operate as open secrets; they know their customers and their customers know them. A couple of them who agreed to speak with AHR disclosed that there is a high demand for their products but while acknowledging that there may be associated dangers, said they were unaware of any.
Mallam Ibrahim, one of the traders, said: “Customers come to us seeking products that promise increased stamina, prolonged pleasure, and even enlargement. However, we are aware that these enhancers may have some health implications but I don’t know them.”
Another seller, who wished to be identified as Aunty Fauzy, boasted of its efficacy, stating: “The demand in Kayamata is very, very high; if somebody gets the stuff and doesn’t return, the product is fake.
“Depending on the brand, this product costs anywhere from N5000 to N70,000, but I must admit that many people, particularly women, trust kayamata since it contains herbs, barely has side effects, and produces results quickly. For instance, kayamata offers them immediate outcomes an hour after taking them when a lady is tight and wants to be wet or loose and wants to be tightened.
“Before I offer my goods to customers, as a seller, I use them myself. I’m extremely careful to choose insertable items that also cleanse my customers of infections, odours, and other unpleasantries, and the majority of them have expressed satisfaction with the results.”
For Iwuozor Kingsley Ogemdi of the Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria, in an August 2019 research published on Researchgate, titled Heavy Metal Concentration of Aphrodisiac Herbs Locally Sold in the South-Eastern Region of Nigeria, these products should be used with caution. He noted that in Nigeria, “these herbs are hawked on the roadside, sold in stores and most of them are not certified by relevant drug agencies to be fit for human consumption.
“They lack manufacturing dates, expiry dates, batch number and any information about the chemical composition of such herbs. The buyers of such drugs patronise the black markets in their bid to give their partners maximum sexual gratification. It is no longer irregular to see sellers of such herbs moving around on foot or in vehicles in the streets marketing their various merchandise without any sort of restriction.
“Married men purchase these herbs to satisfy their wives and mistresses; Wives also purchase these herbs on behalf of their men; Youths who aren’t married also purchase these herbs to exhibit their sexual prowess to their peers and friends. This is one of the reasons why there is an increase in the incidence of rape in the country.”
”Not All Rosy”
While the reviews by the sellers and users attest to the ‘goodness’ of these products, Dr. Henry Osazuwa, a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Medimax Hospital, Abuja, warns about the dangers associated with unregulated sexual enhancers. He explained: “These products often contain undisclosed ingredients, including potentially harmful substances such as P. yohimbe, which could affect the hormonal balance of women and lead to infertility and sildenafil, which can interact with existing medications and pose serious health risks, especially for those with underlying medical conditions.”
As the popularity of these enhancers continues to rise, so do the alarming reports of adverse effects. Users have reported experiencing severe headaches, dizziness, heart palpitations, and even priapism – a painful condition that can lead to permanent damage if left untreated. Dr. Osazuwa stressed: “It is crucial to understand that these enhancers are not subjected to rigorous testing and regulation, making them a gamble for users.
“They can affect the part of our nervous system that controls automatic functions in the brain and cause symptoms such as salivation, diaphoresis, diarrhea, gastrointestinal upset, vomiting, unsteady gait, tremor, high body temperature, low heart rate, and asthma attacks.
“The stimulant effect of some of these preparations can cause a withdrawal syndrome when the patient is unable to get them. Symptoms like poor sleep, mood problems, insomnia, irritability and anxiety, may appear. Psychological withdrawal symptoms may include restlessness, anger, and depression. Those that have cardiac effects can cause high blood pressure, collapse, heart attacks and cardiac arrest,” he added.
Dr. Osazuwa emphasised the need for stricter regulations, stating: “Regulation is very important. Government should be sensitive to the dangers of products that are poorly synthesised or those presented as general herbal remedies. NAFDAC should have comprehensive protocols and guidance documents on the safety and toxicity of these products.
“There should be significant investment in laboratories for safety assessment and toxicity testing of herbal products used in both foods and medicines. This safety assessment should determine whether certain products should be restricted, removed from the market, or have proper safety labelling information.”
Nigeria’s regulatory framework struggles to keep up with the rapidly evolving market of sexual enhancers. The absence of clear guidelines and oversight allows unscrupulous manufacturers to exploit the demand, putting consumers at risk.
In 2021, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) warned Nigerians to desist from using sex enhancement substances known as aphrodisiac in order to impress their female partners, stressing that consumption of such substances could lead to stroke or sudden death.
The Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, decried the preponderance of performance enhancing drugs otherwise known as ‘manpower’ in the local parlance, most of which she said were not registered with NAFDAC, in the Nigerian market.
“They are smuggled into the country,” she said, adding that “if they were registered, the producers and peddlers alike would not be doing what they are doing in the supermarkets, social media platforms and on the streets.”
She lamented that many men have died using performance enhancing drugs and their relatives would blame their death on some imaginary witches in the village.
“Many people are ignorant of the possible damage that misuse of aphrodisiacs or use of unregistered drugs could cause,” said Adeyeye, stressing that when one has a disproportionate flow of blood to a particular part of the body and lasting longer than normal, they tend to disrupt the normal flow of the circulatory system.
She further warned that aphrodisiacs could also interact with other drugs in the system, explaining that the liver is responsible for the breakdown of drugs, while the byproduct of all waste goes down through the kidneys.
“When these things are used especially with some herbal medicines that don’t have dosage and professional prescription, it can lead to internal organ damage. It can hurt the liver and the kidneys, leading to untimely death.
“The way the body system works, everything should function the way God designed it. When they begin to disrupt those functions overtime, it affects the imbalance and the ecosystem of how the body’s physiology works and can lead to unintended consequences.
“For those who have certain health risks, like people that are hypertensive, or people that have heart disease, there is more of anxiety that the drug could stimulate into the system, and with anxiety, that can lead to changes in the physiology of the body and can lead to stroke or sudden stoppage of the heart.
“These happen in cases when men suddenly slump during sexual intercourse…..There are a lot of side effects. Every drug is a potential poison. Every drug has one side effect or the other. These are chemical products with side effects,” she said.
As Nigerians seek to enhance their sexual experiences, the unregulated market of sexual enhancers presents a precarious path. The stories of users, sellers, and medical experts reveal the hidden risks lurking beneath the surface. By shedding light on these dangers, we hope that individuals will make informed choices, prioritize their health, and demand more stringent regulations to safeguard their well-being.
