Q: I am wondering about the Ropex supplement. Is it safe? Would you recommend it? Are there other alternatives?

-- B.B. Rocks

A: I'd love to tell you that this supplement is so much more than snake oil, but nothing I've read (aside from the embarrassingly obvious Internet forum shills) seems to back up its claims. If it did work, every man with a cum-loving partner would have a medicine cabinet full of the stuff.

Ropex is a botanical supplement for men that supposedly increases the volume of ejaculatory fluid and intensifies orgasm. Its primary ingredients are seed extracts of rye, corn and timothy grass (those tiny bales of bunny hay you see at the pet store), with a lot of minerals and amino acids thrown in. Amino acids L-arginine and L-lysine, as well as the mineral zinc, have been proven to improve semen quality and enhance libido. If you're looking to shoot hearty sperm, you might consider saving the 40 bucks a month you'd spend on Ropex and dropping a ten-spot on a few extra supplements at Target.

I asked a friend to try Ropex -- in the interest of science and because I obviously can't -- but he's apparently seen "Scary Movie" one too many times and was terrified of causing accidental structural damage to his condo. Highly unlikely. First, plastering your girlfriend to the ceiling with semen isn't even humanly possible. Second, there are really only two tried and true ways to increase ejaculate: drink plenty of water and stagger your orgasms. Having a high fluid level in the body means more fluid will come out of the body, and not orgasming daily gives your semen reserves time to fill up. Try drinking at least 64 ounces of water every day and ejaculating only every three days.

Ropex's claim to make male orgasm more satisfying probably stems from the psychological effects of shooting a big load. There's a certain feeling of satisfaction a man gets after laying out some thick, white ropes -- "Ropex," get it? -- so, if the product did indeed increase semen volume, then it would subsequently enhance the overall experience.

However, the average batch of ejaculate is less than a teaspoon; unless Ropex can double that amount (which seems dubious), how would you even notice an increase? I'd like to see a placebo study done, but since it's an herbal supplement and not a regulated pharmaceutical, that's unlikely to happen.

If you want to have more satisfying sex, just do your Kegels. Contract your pubococcygeus (PC) muscle by pretending you have a full bladder and there's not a bathroom in sight. Hold, release, hold, release, 10 reps, three times a day. Eventually work your way up to holding it for as long as you can, and do that three times a day. In addition to enhancing orgasmic sensations, a strong PC muscle keeps your erection harder and helps get it back faster if you lose it.

And remember, Kegels work for both men and women. I don't know what your relationship status is, but I kind of love the idea of couples' Kegels. "Honey, it's time for our workout!"

Not being able to try Ropex, I can't say firsthand that it's a scam, but it sure walks and quacks like a duck. Most, if not all, sexual enhancement products just don't work.

For instance, in the interest of science and because I could, I recently tried K-Y's new Intense Arousal Gel. Many times. There was absolutely no noticeable result, despite following the "massage in thoroughly, reapply often" directions. There's 20 bucks I'll never get back, but at least it's a tax writeoff.

  • Alexis McKinnis is taking your questions about sex, dating and relationships. Send them to advice@vita.mn or submit anonymously at www.vita.mn/alexis. Don't leave out the juicy details!