Hugh Hefner suffered major health issue after taking ‘too much viagra’ but continued to use the pills

We all know Hugh Hefner was more than partial to a bit of hanky-panky, but according to his widow, he even put his sex drive before his health.

Crystal Hefner - who got hitched to Playboy's editor-in-chief in 2012 - claimed her late husband said he'd rather suffer the effects of taking too much Viagra and 'still be able to have sex'.

Tons of blokes pop the little blue pills to enhance their performance in the bedroom, but like everything else in life, it's best done in moderation.

According to the NHS, men shouldn't take tablets for erectile dysfunction such as sildenafil 'more than once a day'.

However, this advice seems to have fallen on deaf ears for Hefner, as he is said to have disregarded this guidance as he instead prioritised his sex life.

Crystal was just 21 years old when she first met the notorious ladies man, who was 60 years her senior.

Becoming his third wife in December 2012, the model remained married to Hefner until his death in September 2017.

Upon reflection, Crystal admitted that if she had a daughter, she wouldn't allow her to enter into a relationship with someone so much older.

Crystal spoke about the Playboy founder in her memoir (Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic)

She opened up about her experiences in the Playboy Mansion as well as sharing details of her marriage to Hefner in a 2023 interview.

"The hardest part of trying to have a relationship with Hef was that it was judged so much," Crystal told the Daily Mail.

"Rightfully so. If that was my daughter now - it wouldn't happen.

"All I can say is that if you come from a happy, perfect, loving childhood, you don't usually end up with someone who was already 60 years old by the time you are born."

Crystal, now 38, also revealed that her husband set some strict ground rules, including dictating what colour nail polish she wore (pale pink and sheer, if you’re interested) and setting a 6.00pm curfew for her.

She always had to be home to tuck into dinner each night with Hefner, which always consisted of the same thing: chicken soup with cream cheese and crackers.

The couple would then cosy up to watch his favourite movies - and after this, Crystal says she was then expected to participate in group sex sessions with her other half.

Hefner's widow claims he went deaf in one ear due to taking so much Viagra (John Heller/WireImage)

"It was embarrassing," Crystal continued. "I don't know the most people there'd been in our bedroom at one time but - a lot. Pretty bad. We were like, 'Oh, now it's your turn.'

"Nobody really wanted to be there, but I think in Hef's mind, he still thought he was in his 40s, and those nights, the people, the mansion, solidified that idea.

"He felt like, 'I've still got it'."

According to his widow, Hefner eventually went deaf in one of his ears due to the mammoth amounts of Viagra he used to take.

"Hef always said he'd rather be deaf and still able to have sex," she said of his hearing loss.

Ever heard of quitting while your ahead, eh Hef?

And despite his reputation, Crystal branded their first sexual encounter 'unremarkable'.

She added: "Whatever you would like, whatever you would think, or however you would want a night to go, well, it wasn't that."