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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be worried about sex drugs I found

230 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:
Sunshine1500 · 19/04/2026 20:14

also tadalifil is used for other purposes that erectile dis function

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 😕

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??!

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.

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

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.

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:
Sunshine1500 · 19/04/2026 20:47

So is it tadalafil?

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:
TellmeImwrongnow · 19/04/2026 20:49

Sunshine1500 · 19/04/2026 20:47

So is it tadalafil?

I went and checked. Yes.

OP posts:
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

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.

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:
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:
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.

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.

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:
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:
Sunshine1500 · 19/04/2026 20:56

TellmeImwrongnow · 19/04/2026 20:52

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.

Edited

This is even more reason not to worry it’s from years ago and it won’t have any lasting effect from a couple of boxes.

Sunshine1500 · 19/04/2026 20:56

Honestly just have a chat with him when he’s home , you’ve been through a lot try not to worry x

TellmeImwrongnow · 19/04/2026 20:57

Sunshine1500 · 19/04/2026 20:56

This is even more reason not to worry it’s from years ago and it won’t have any lasting effect from a couple of boxes.

2 years ago. They can still work within 2-3 years. Just checked.

OP posts:
Apearlybum · 19/04/2026 20:57

TellmeImwrongnow · 19/04/2026 20:55

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?

In your shoes, I’d leave the thread
and wait to speak to my partner of 20 years
speculating is going to achieve nothing aside from making the chat with him loaded and fraught from the very word go

TellmeImwrongnow · 19/04/2026 20:58

Sunshine1500 · 19/04/2026 20:56

Honestly just have a chat with him when he’s home , you’ve been through a lot try not to worry x

Thank you. x

OP posts:
TellmeImwrongnow · 19/04/2026 21:00

Apearlybum · 19/04/2026 20:22

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??!

Not weird - as you're not a bunch of doctors, I didn't think it was that relevant - the wording on the packet said more. I went and checked anyway.

OP posts:
TellmeImwrongnow · 19/04/2026 21:04

greenteaandlimes · 19/04/2026 19:21

I think the name is important. It would give you and us more clarity on what exactly they are. Weird that you won’t go and check.

I did in the end. It was the wording on the packet about sex that was more worrying. Not the actual drug, IMHO.

OP posts: