Men, who are unable to have an erection, took a great leap forward when the first oral erectile dysfunction (ED) medication, Viagra (sildenafil), was introduced in 1998. There have been strides recently in a range of other ED treatments too, ranging from over-the-counter pumps to surgical implants and suppositories.
Here below are the 7 ways to treat ED:
- Pills: Viagra, Cialis (tadalafil), and Levitra (vardenafil) fight erectile dysfunction by relaxing smooth muscle in the penis. These increase blood flow and enable an erection. ED drugs are 70% effective in allowing the penis to achieve hardness for sexual activity.
- Injections: The drug alprostadil is a synthetic version of prostaglandin E1, a hormone-like substance that functions similarly to ED pills. Inject this medication directly into the base or the side of the penis with a tiny needle or insert a suppository into the urethra.
- Suppositories: A suppository called MUSE—containing the drug alprostadil—is inserted into the urethra. When it is absorbed, it loses some of its strength. It takes time to prepare and administer the medications.
- Pumps: Penis vacuum pumps are quite effective in increasing blood flow to the penis and they’re available over-the-counter at relatively low cost. The process of pumping air out of the tube pulls blood into the erectile tissue.
- Constriction rings: “Cock rings” worn around the base of the penis can slow down the speed at which blood leaves the penis. Constriction rings prolong an erection once it is achieved (using a vacuum pump, for instance); duration of usage of these rings should not exceed 30 minutes
- Implants: The technology of penile implants is improving all the time.
The penile implants are of two types:
i) Inflatable implants are cylinders that are implanted in the erection chambers of the penis and inflated by a hydraulic pump implanted in the scrotum.
ii) Malleable implants are semi-rigid, bendable rods that are implanted into the penis, which can then be manipulated manually into an erect or flaccid position.
7. Surgery:
Vascular surgery is rarely performed but may be a last resort for some men. Patients who can benefit from vascular surgery are less than 1% of men who have ED. It’s the equivalent to a coronary artery bypass and there are only a handful of surgeons in the country who do it.
For safer sex, use condoms. These drastically reduce the risk of becoming infected with a sexually transmitted disease (STD) and avoiding pregnancy.
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