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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be worried about sex drugs I found

243 replies

TellmeImwrongnow · 19/04/2026 17:58

Sorry for loooong message - I've literally just discovered this and been sat on the floor in the bathroom for 30 minutes wondering what to do.

DH of nearly 20 years has gone away with work so I was happily having a thorough spring clean and 'Sort Your Life Out' style tidy. Going through all the bathroom cupboards, consolidating multiple buys of things, getting rid of empty bottles, etc.

I had done mine, my children's stuff, travel bags, toiletries, and sorting through old bath toys to get rid of, but then I thought I might as well do his cupboard too - it was the last one.

I pulled everything out and found, right at the back...

1 temporary hair dye kit... that was weird enough. I was never aware he'd used hair dye and he's never told me about. He's never coloured his hair apart from for fancy dress, when it was a spray can job and I did it for him. The dried foam on the inside of the clear lid implies it's been used at least once.

1 brown cardboard delivery box with a 6 boxes of drugs in it. He takes heart and blood pressure stuff anyway, so assumed it was that. Pulled one out to consolidate with his other pills and realised...

It said on the box, "Take one 30 minutes before sex."

Now... he's never had any problem in that area, with me, anyway.

He's never told me he was getting these drugs.

I wouldn't have thought he taken one 30 minutes before being with me as it's never that premeditated.

It's not a medical prescription - he's bought them, clearly off some random company on the web. Which is worrying with his heart/blood pressure meds.

The delivery slip said 7 boxes, but there were only 6 remaining and one of them was empty (told you he was a hoarder), the other half-full. Each box contains 4 tablets, so that means 4+4+2 times he's used them already - ten times - and I've not been made aware of this.

There is a complication in our relationship as a few years ago I got cancer and had a double mastectomy. I have had reconstructions, but my relationship with my body has not been good since. I am covered in scars and don't have much feeling anyway.

That, with menopause and anxiety (I suspect also undiagnosed ADHD), the death of a parent and insecurity in my job...it has all completely killed my sex drive. So we don't have sex that often. And when we do, I can barely cope with penetration as it's so painful. HRT is not an option because of the cancer. So it's usually me pleasing him orally because I still love him and don't want him to miss out just because I don't feel sexy. To be honest, I love that I can still do that for him and get that reaction from him.

He is incredibly affectionate with me, has been so patient, loving, supportive and kind through the last few rocky years, and says that he's with me every step of the way and not going anywhere.

So until now, I had no reason to believe anything to the contrary.

I looked at the date of the drugs and they were bought 15 months AFTER my mastectomies when I was really not being sexual at all and 2 months before my second round of surgery so again, I wasn't having sex with him then either.

I wish I could remember how many times we've had sex in the last 3 years, but I'd struggle to say it was 10 times with all the surgeries and grief and anxiety and depression I've been going through. (I have recently gone to a doctor and asked for anti-anxiety meds as it's got really bad - I have an assessment and blood tests and an ECG to go through first)

I just thought how lucky was I to have this amazing patient saint of a man looking after me and being there for me.

Now of course I'm imagining the worst.

That, no wonder he's been smiling through all of this if he's getting his end away anyway and getting away with it.

I'm not a suspicious person, never had any reason to doubt him before (he doesn't even go out that much - he's a real homebody and family man, loves cooking and entertaining...) and have never even looked at his phone.

I'm not here to have everyone confirm my suspicions - I can see in black and white how this looks.

I'm asking MN here (if you can) to give me a perfectly reasonable, non-adulterous explanation for what I've found.

Might there be one?

I will speak to him tonight but won't see him till Wednesday.

Meanwhile I've got to be mum to our kids and act normal round them.

Do I bring it up with him? It will be easier to lie to my face with distance. What do I say? Or do I wait till he's back?

I'm now even doubting he's away with work. I've always trusted him all this time and all our friends and family think we're the best couple ever.

AIBU?

Yes - there may be a non-adulterous explanation (please do say!).

No - wise up woman FFS.

I'm really scared to press 'post' but here goes... (please be gentle).

Thank you for reading this far.

OP posts:
TellmeImwrongnow · 19/04/2026 20:55

Sunshine1500 · 19/04/2026 20:54

dont think think the worst if there no other concerns, it’s maybe just something he’s experimented and then realised you weren’t on board do that’s why it’s at the back of a cupboard.

Maybe but the delivery note was dated between my operations and cancer treatment. It was not a sexy time.

OP posts:
TellmeImwrongnow · 19/04/2026 20:55

Apearlybum · 19/04/2026 20:51

Well there we go then.

uses

  • Erectile Dysfunction (ED): Taken as needed (10-20 mg) or once daily (2.5-5 mg).
  • BPH: Helps with urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate.
  • PAH: Improves exercise capacity (often under the brand Adcirca).

so certainly not definite he using it to boost his performance in bed

Not got prostrate problems and is reasonably fit.

More worrying, this has been ordered off the internet, not prescribed and may have contra-indications with his existing meds.

Also why hiding this at the back of the cupboard?

OP posts:
Sunshine1500 · 19/04/2026 20:54

dont think think the worst if there no other concerns, it’s maybe just something he’s experimented and then realised you weren’t on board do that’s why it’s at the back of a cupboard.

Arlanymor · 19/04/2026 20:54

Apearlybum · 19/04/2026 20:51

Well there we go then.

uses

  • Erectile Dysfunction (ED): Taken as needed (10-20 mg) or once daily (2.5-5 mg).
  • BPH: Helps with urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate.
  • PAH: Improves exercise capacity (often under the brand Adcirca).

so certainly not definite he using it to boost his performance in bed

The ED is definitely to improve performance in bed - because it means he can actually perform in bed. Also for self-pleasure obviously.

TellmeImwrongnow · 19/04/2026 20:52

Sunshine1500 · 19/04/2026 20:51

Okay I can see why you’re worried.
you need to speak face to face when he’s home.
check the date on the packet it’s maybe not a recent thing.
I hope you sort it out.

Why?! Is it dangerous?! I haven't even dared look it up yet.

The date was a couple of years ago, when I definitely wasn't in that state of mind.

OP posts:
TellmeImwrongnow · 19/04/2026 20:51

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 19/04/2026 20:43

That’s what I’d do too. I’ve seen way too many posts on here and seen/heard stuff IRL about affairs. He could be using prostitutes as pp said. So check the pills going forward.

This is such a horrible possibility, but a possibility none the less.

How sad.

Maybe I should but he'll know I've seen them as the cupboard is now tidy where it was chaos before.

(And no, I couldn't put it back that way as I took other spent packaging out and crushed and chucked it out)

OP posts:
Sunshine1500 · 19/04/2026 20:51

TellmeImwrongnow · 19/04/2026 20:49

I went and checked. Yes.

Okay I can see why you’re worried.
you need to speak face to face when he’s home.
check the date on the packet it’s maybe not a recent thing.
I hope you sort it out.

Apearlybum · 19/04/2026 20:51

TellmeImwrongnow · 19/04/2026 20:49

I went and checked. Yes.

Well there we go then.

uses

  • Erectile Dysfunction (ED): Taken as needed (10-20 mg) or once daily (2.5-5 mg).
  • BPH: Helps with urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate.
  • PAH: Improves exercise capacity (often under the brand Adcirca).

so certainly not definite he using it to boost his performance in bed

TellmeImwrongnow · 19/04/2026 20:49

Sunshine1500 · 19/04/2026 20:47

So is it tadalafil?

I went and checked. Yes.

OP posts:
TellmeImwrongnow · 19/04/2026 20:48

Sunshine1500 · 19/04/2026 20:36

Oh ok! Sorry.
maybe it is worrying but I wouldn’t jump to any conclusions we are all allowed private medical decisions/drugs

My medical past has been all out there because of my diagnosis he knows everything.

His medical history is also known to me - heart and blood pressure problems.

So to secretly take sex drugs (for my benefit or anyone else) - when we have already discussed it openly and considered the risks - is either going completely against what we discussed and not caring for the consequences... or something more nefarious.

If it caused a heart attack (for these drugs raise the blood pressure - that's how they do what they do) our kids would be left fatherless for a bunk up.

OP posts:
Sunshine1500 · 19/04/2026 20:47

So is it tadalafil?

TellmeImwrongnow · 19/04/2026 20:44

BridgetJonesV2 · 19/04/2026 20:10

Tadalafil is the generic drug also marketed as Cialis.

But the whole concern here is that they don't have a pharmacy label on meaning they likely weren't prescribed.

Thank you for actually reading the post. That's one concern and a big one, yes. x

OP posts:
Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 19/04/2026 20:43

GreenCaterpillarOnALeaf · 19/04/2026 19:28

This will probably be a very unpopular approach but if it was me in your situation I would have a snoop on his phone / laptop. That’s just I would do. There are lots of other potential explanations though.

Also if he’s on other meds he really should consult a doctor before popping boner pills.

That’s what I’d do too. I’ve seen way too many posts on here and seen/heard stuff IRL about affairs. He could be using prostitutes as pp said. So check the pills going forward.

Sunshine1500 · 19/04/2026 20:36

hotdoggies · 19/04/2026 20:30

10, not 2.

Oh ok! Sorry.
maybe it is worrying but I wouldn’t jump to any conclusions we are all allowed private medical decisions/drugs

hotdoggies · 19/04/2026 20:30

Sunshine1500 · 19/04/2026 20:12

i wouldn’t presume this is cheating. He may have just wanted to try it, considering he’s only used a couple of the pills it’s really not anything to worry about on its own.

10, not 2.

Apearlybum · 19/04/2026 20:22

TellmeImwrongnow · 19/04/2026 19:16

I don't think the name matters for the purposes of the thread. I can't be arsed to go upstairs. Was bought off the internet and starts with a T. Thanks for the offer though!

Edited

This is really weird

You are very worried
You are posting loads about your concerns and questioning your partner of 2 decades… and you can’t be arsed to go upstairs and actually identify the medication we are talking about here??!

Apearlybum · 19/04/2026 20:20

TellmeImwrongnow · 19/04/2026 19:06

The empty box is up two flights of stairs. But the name really doesn't matter for the purposes of this thread!

Edited

It kind of does 😕

Sunshine1500 · 19/04/2026 20:14

also tadalifil is used for other purposes that erectile dis function

Sunshine1500 · 19/04/2026 20:12

i wouldn’t presume this is cheating. He may have just wanted to try it, considering he’s only used a couple of the pills it’s really not anything to worry about on its own.

BridgetJonesV2 · 19/04/2026 20:10

Tadalafil is the generic drug also marketed as Cialis.

But the whole concern here is that they don't have a pharmacy label on meaning they likely weren't prescribed.

Apearlybum · 19/04/2026 19:43

what is the drug? Might make a difference to discussions

Thecup · 19/04/2026 19:42

just for clarification is it a similar drug to viagra - just a different brand or is it for something else? That’s not clear from the post. I would also suggest you count them and see if they are being used next weekend. It might be worth trying to put his cabinets back to the way they were and hopefully he won’t notice. Finally- many men dye their hair and don’t tell anyone- even their wives - he is entitled to his privacy

TellmeImwrongnow · 19/04/2026 19:30

GreenCaterpillarOnALeaf · 19/04/2026 19:28

This will probably be a very unpopular approach but if it was me in your situation I would have a snoop on his phone / laptop. That’s just I would do. There are lots of other potential explanations though.

Also if he’s on other meds he really should consult a doctor before popping boner pills.

I actually don't know what I'd even be looking for or where. He's taken digital devices with him. And I don't know his logins.

That second point is my concern if he's getting sh*t off the dark web without consultations.

OP posts:
GreenCaterpillarOnALeaf · 19/04/2026 19:28

This will probably be a very unpopular approach but if it was me in your situation I would have a snoop on his phone / laptop. That’s just I would do. There are lots of other potential explanations though.

Also if he’s on other meds he really should consult a doctor before popping boner pills.

TellmeImwrongnow · 19/04/2026 19:27

hotdoggies · 19/04/2026 19:16

Do you think he brought it up because he wanted to use it and was seeing how you'd react - but then when you were against it decided not to say anything and just to use it secretly when he went up to bed alone?

Alternatively my guess would be he's using prostitutes when he's away and taking the pills to combat the nerves - which is why he doesn't need them normally.

It's horrible OP to not know whether it's innocent or horrific. Personally I wouldn't confront him as he is bound to lie if it is the worst case scenario. Instead I would be counting the tablets and noticing when they're getting used. If the numbers are going down when he's going up to bed early then you know you probably have nothing to worry about. If they're disappearing when he goes away then I'd be much more concerned.

That first paragraph is highly plausible. I said no because of his health conditions, so he's clearly decided to not care about with that.

As for the 2nd para, well, there's a scenario I hadn't considered. And it's not a ridiculous one, but I'm struggling to match that with the man I thought I knew. I think that would seriously give him the ick.

I'm not sure I'd be able to keep schtum till he next goes away. But actually he's on a boys' weekend next weekend so maybe I can. That does feel like actual snooping though. But it's not a dumb idea.

But it's going to be obvious I've been in his cupboard as it was a tip before and now it's really tidy! So he'll probably question me before I question him if I say nothing!

You've put a whole new spin on things. Thank you.

OP posts: