Erectile dysfunction can be simply defined as the inability to get and retain an erection firm enough to have sex.
Without proper medical treatment, ED can make sex difficult, and as time goes by, the problem can worsen.
The treatment options vary depending on any underlying health condition and the severity of the dysfunction. Your doctor will clearly explain to you the benefits and risks of each treatment.
Now, let us take a closer look at the available treatment options.
The article is a part of our series on “What is Erectile Dysfunction: A Complete Guide”
1. Oral medications
One of the most successful ways to treat erectile dysfunction is through oral medications like:
- Sildenafil (Viagra)
- Tadalafil (Adcirca, Cialis)
- Vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn)
- Avanafil (Stendra)
- Dapoxetine (Priligy)
These medications enhance the effects of nitric oxide, a natural chemical compound produced by the body to relax the muscles present in the penis.
This further helps to enhance the blood flow to the penis to achieve a successful erection. Taking these tablets will not produce an erection. Sexual stimulation is first necessary to release nitric oxide from your penial nerves,
Medications such as viagra help amplify the nerve impulses going to the penis, allowing it to function normally. The drug is not effective for people who have had prostate surgery or are having diabetes.
The dosage varies depending on the age, health condition, and extent of dysfunction. Some of the possible side effects include upset stomach, backache, visual changes, etc.
Discuss with your doctor before taking the medications if you have any of the following conditions.
- Have a heart disease.
- If you recently had any heart surgery.
- Have low blood pressure or taking blood pressure medication
2. Erectile dysfunction exercise
Although medication provides only temporary relief, regular exercise can help to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles as they are key in maintaining a healthy and viable erection.
Kegel exercises
These are popularly known to improve the sexual function of adults. Kegel exercises are simple movements to strengthen the pelvic muscle floor.
You can do this by identifying and contracting the pelvic muscle floor for roughly three seconds and repeating the whole exercise 20-30 times in a row.
Studies conducted in 2005 have indicated that the group where penile function has significantly improved in men who regularly practiced kegel exercises.
3. Foods to help with ED
Research has shown that consuming a nutrient-rich diet will help you retain the erection for a longer period and improve sexual performance.
A Meditteranean diet, for example, works well for boosting blood flow, improving energy levels, L-arginine and antioxidant balance in the body.
However, for most people who are not accustomed to it, switching might seem difficult at first.
You can start by making regular changes to your diet and gradually adding some new foods as well. Here are some of the food options to consider:
- Bananas
- Papayas
- Porridge
- Salmon
- Onion and Garlic
- Nuts and milk
- Cherries
- Dark chocolates
- Walnuts
4. Other ED treatments
These include using penis pump and penile implant.
Penis vacuum device
This is a device that uses natural suction to create an erection. The device is a hollow tube with a pump that is either battery-powered or hand-powered.
The tube is placed over the penis, and the pump is turned on to suck out the air present inside the tube. This creates a vacuum pulling the blood into the penis, causing an erection.
Once an erection is successfully achieved, a tension ring is placed around the base of your penis to ensure that the blood is retained and the vacuum device is removed.
The erection will last long for a couple to have sex. The tension ring can be removed after sexual intercourse, and this will also prevent ejaculation.
Penile implant
This treatment is only suggested when other forms of treatments fail. The implant involves placing devices on both sides of the penis through surgery.
The implants consist of malleable or inflatable devices. Inflatable devices help you to control and retain the erection as per the user’s desire. Using an implant with malleable rods helps to keep your penis firm but bendable. If you are suffering from any urinary tract infection, this method is not recommended.
5. Other medications and treatment options
Some of the other medications that are used to treat erectile dysfunction are
Alprostadil self-injection: In this method, you can use a needle to inject alprostadil into the base of your penis. Once the drug is injected, it results in an erection lasting for an hour. Sometimes a mix of two or medicines is used along with the penile injections to treat any underlying condition.
Alprostadil urethral suppository: Alprostadil intraurethral therapy involves placing a tiny alprostadil suppository at the inner side of the penis in the penile urethra. A special applicator may be used to insert a suppository into the penis. The effect will last from 30 to 60 minutes.
Testosterone replacement therapy: Sometimes ED can be due to deficient levels of testosterone. In such a case, testosterone therapy combined with other medicines can help to restore erection. Testosterone treatment (TRT) is done using injections, gels or skin patches. That said, testosterone treatment may not improve sexual performance for some men and should be discontinued. TRT is often used in combination with ED drugs for better results.
6. Shift to a healthy lifestyle
You could follow some of the tips, such as:
- If you’re a smoker, try quitting.
- Exercise regularly.
- Shed some excess pounds.
- Try to relax on the weekends if your work environment is stressful.
- Avoid unhealthy relationships.
- Include a new hobby in your life.
- Eat healthy meals and avoid fad diets.
7. Counseling
If there are no physical reasons for the ED, then the cause could be psychological. Mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, stress, etc., can cause ED.
If this is the case, having a regular counseling session with a certified psychologist or psychiatrist could solve the problem.
What is the latest treatment for erectile dysfunction?
Recent developments in medical research for ED have brought forth several effective treatments to minimise or fully cure the issue.
Some of those are:
- Injections
- Testosterone replacement therapy
- Penile implant surgery
- External penile prosthesis
How to choose an ED treatment option?
While you consider the treatment option make sure that you and your doctor consider all the available options. Selecting appropriate treatment essentially depends on the root cause of the issue. An effective diagnosis could reveal the best treatment method for you.
References
Faysal A. Yafi,Lawrence Jenkins,Maarten Albersen,Giovanni Corona,Andrea M. Isidori, Shari Goldfarb,Mario Maggi,Christian J. Nelson,haron Parish,Andrea Salonia,Ronny Tan,John P. Mulhall,and Wayne J. G. Hellstrom (4 Feb 2006)Erectile Dysfunction,Available at https://www.nature.com/articles/nrdp20163/[Accessed 1 June 2021]
Alexander W. Pastuszak,(6 Sept 2014)Current Diagnosis and Management of Erectile Dysfunction, Available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4394737 /[Accessed 1 June 2021]
Marshall J. Stein, Haocheng Lin, and Run Wangcorresponding(6 Feb 2014)New advances in erectile technology,Available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3891291/[Accessed 1 June 2021]
