Erectile Dysfunction Treatment

Changes in lifestyle, counseling, medications, injections, and suppositories, vacuum devices, surgery, and other treatments not recommended for ED are discussed in this article. Can I use insurance?

Talking to your doctor is a good first step if you think you have erectile dysfunction. The cause will determine the kind of treatment you need.

Changes in your lifestyle Your doctor might tell you to make some changes in your daily routine. Consider hearing things like:

Stop using tobacco and illicit drugs.

Reduce alcohol intake.

Reduce stress.

Eat a nutritious diet.

Regularly exercise.

If you're overweight or obese, lose weight.

Lower your blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Your doctor may try a different medication or lower your dosage if a medication is causing your ED.

Some other treatments are:

Counseling, medications, pumps, and surgery are all forms of counseling. If your ED is brought on by stress or anxiety, talking to a trained therapist might be helpful.

Erectile dysfunction can be brought on by anything from life-altering issues to everyday stress. Sexual anxiety can be alleviated and you can feel more confident in your relationship by discussing these topics with a licensed therapist.

Most of the time, you won't need more than a few sessions. You might also want to include your partner.

Medications Pills, drugs injected into the penis, and other forms of ED medication are all options.

Men who suffer from erectile dysfunction typically receive their first prescription for medications like:

Depending on the drug, Avanafil (Stendra), Sildenafil (Viagra), Tadalafil (Cialis), Vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn), and Cialis (Cialis) are all taken 15 minutes to 36 hours before sexual activity. These should only be used once per day.

Staxyn goes away when swallowed. The remaining medications are ingested.

About eighty percent of men who take these pills feel better. However, if your erection lasts longer than four hours, seek immediate medical attention. Some side effects are:

You should not take these pills if you are taking nitrate medications for heart disease. Other side effects include headache, stuffy nose, muscle ache, and occasionally, a temporary blue-green tint to your vision. Doing so may result in a potentially fatal drop in blood pressure.

If you are taking alpha-blockers for prostate issues or high blood pressure, you should also exercise caution.

Inform your physician of all of your prescription and over-the-counter medications, herbal remedies, and supplements.

Related Injections and Suppositories Your doctor may prescribe alprostadil if the pills don't work or are unsafe to take. It increases blood flow to the penis, resulting in an immediate erection.

There are two ways to give it:

Injection: A needle is used to inject the medication into the side of the penis. As a result, you run the risk of having dangerously long erections and getting scars.

Suppositories. The penis is lined with pellets. This procedure may be referred to as MUSE (medicated urethral system for erections). Injections may be more effective than this.

Vacuum Devices A vacuum device increases blood flow to the penis, which in turn increases firmness. When the device is used correctly, about 80% of men experience an erection strong enough for sex.

They are frequently used for rehabilitation of the penis, usually following prostate surgery. You will be put on a program designed to restore normal blood flow to the penis by your doctor. You'll be able to get an erection on your own because of this.

Results may not be evident for several months.

The three components of a vacuum erection device, also known as a vacuum constriction device, are as follows:

An elastic ring that is placed around the base of the penis after an erection is obtained A clear, plastic tube that slides over the penis A manual or battery-operated pump that sucks air out of the cylinder and sends more blood to the penis Similar to a rubber band, it By preventing blood from draining out of the penis, it helps maintain firmness. This may be helpful if you suffer from venous leak syndrome.

A vacuum machine can be heavy. It will also prevent spontaneity. The elastic ring may cause pain, bruising, loss of sensation, or irritation to the skin.

There are vacuum devices that can be purchased without a prescription. Before getting one, talk to your doctor.

Surgery Your doctor may recommend surgery if all other treatments for ED have failed.

The procedures are:

Vascular reconstruction surgery to improve blood flow to the penis or reduce blood leakage from the penis and surrounding structures is known as the placement of an implant (prosthesis). This method is currently not recommended and only works in a small percentage of cases.

Related Implants, or prostheses, assist many men with ED in restoring firmness. Two kinds exist:

Two bendable rods are implanted inside the penis as malleable implants. Your penis and, by extension, the rods are moved manually into a sex-friendly position. The size of these implants does not change.

A pair of tubes connected to a squeezable pump in the scrotum and placed in the penis are known as inflatable implants. To get an erection, you press on the pump. The length and width of inflatable implants can also be slightly increased.

To get an erection, you must always use your penile implant.

Implants may infect the body. You should avoid getting a urinary tract infection, skin infection, or systemic (body-wide) infection.

Other possibilities include:

It may automatically expand.

The device might fail.

The pump might change.

Surgery for enlarged prostate, bladder cancer, and other urological conditions is also more difficult with implants.

Surgery for vascular reconstruction can:

Improve blood flow to the penis by repairing blood vessel blockages. Block veins to stop blood from leaking out of the penis. Men with small blockages should get blood vessel repair. It rarely works well for men with more widespread obstructions.

Alternative Treatments You can look into the following other treatments:

Acupuncture. In this ancient Chinese practice, very fine needles are inserted into specific body parts. It is thought to improve your body's capacity for self-healing. It has assisted a few men. However, more research is required to demonstrate its efficacy.

Aromatherapy. Lemon, among other scents, may help you feel better. And that might make you feel better.

Testosterone is not recommended for ED. It is a hormone for men. If your testosterone level is normal, you don't need any more.

Trazodone. An antidepressant is this. It's still not clear whether it helps with ED. It should not be done.

Supplements. Many over-the-counter remedies for erectile dysfunction have been praised as completely natural. However, it is unclear whether they are safe or effective.