Available Methods to Treat ED

If you suspect that you have erectile dysfunction, the first thing that should be done is talking to a qualified doctor who will explain you more about possible ways to treat this common medical condition. Basically, it’s all about the inability to achieve and keep a firm and lasting erection. Keep in mind that your perfect treatment depends on the main causes of ED and other important factors, such as your individual response, age and so on. For example, you may determine that healthy lifestyle changes, including losing fat, stopping smoking or avoiding alcohol, help you improve your sexual performance. If certain medications that you need to take cause impotence, your physician will advise you to lower your dosage or switch to other meds. There are different methods to treat ED, so that you should get more information about each one.

Counseling

Sometimes, everyday stress and anxiety may lead to having specific erectile problems, and this is when you need to talk to experienced therapists to solve them successfully. Different life-changing issues can trigger the same medical condition too, and that’s why it’s advisable to talk about them with licensed therapists who can help you ease sexual anxiety and start feeling more confident in yourself. The good news is that most male patients don’t require many sessions, and you should think about involving your partner to achieve the best results possible.

Taking ED Medications

They are available as pills that should be taken on an occasional basis (when you need them). Most doctors prescribe such meds as Viagra, Cialis, Levitra and others to their patients who suffer from erectile dysfunction. It’s necessary to swallow one capsule 15-45 minutes before your planned sexual intercourse, and their effects may last up to 36 hours (everything depends on a particular brand). The best part is that ED drugs work for more than 80% of men who use them, but don’t forget that they come with specific adverse effects, such as stuffy nose, headaches, nausea, etc. Another important aspect that you should take into consideration is that you can’t take these meds with nitrate drugs for heart conditions because of possible interactions. Besides, if you need to take alpha-blockers for any reason, be careful with ED medications. Your doctor must know everything about the medicines and supplements (even vitamins and minerals) that you’re taking to be on a safe side.

Suppositories and Injections

If ED pills don’t work well enough, or they are not safe for you to use, you may have to take Alprostadil. It works by boosting the blood flow into penile tissues, thus, triggering erections within a few minutes. Your doctor may prescribe this medication to you in two possible ways: injections (when it must be put into your penis by needles) and suppositories (special pellets that are placed inside your penis).

Things that Are Not Recommended

• Testosterone because it’s a male hormone, and you don’t need it more than normal levels.
• Trazodone is an antidepressant, so it’s not clear if it really works for erectile problems.

What about Supplements?

Nowadays, you can see a variety of over-the-counter products that claim to treat erectile dysfunction in a natural way, but it’s not clear whether they are effective and safe to use. Remember that some of these products may contain harmful and even dangerous substances. You should refuse from taking them if they promise very fast results, are advertised under suspicious brands, sold in a single serving, have weird labels and so on.

Vacuum Devices

There are many men who decide to use them to increase their penile firmness by boosting the blood flow into this body organ. More than 80% of those men who use such devices properly can get an erection firm and hard enough for their sexual intercourse. Besides, they are often used for effective penile rehabilitation (for example, after prostate surgeries), but only a qualified doctor can put you on the regimen designed to restore your normal blood flow into a penis to allow you to get spontaneous erections. However, it may take up to a few months to see excellent results when using these devices. They are made of 3 basic parts and include plastic and clear tubes that slide over a penis, either battery-operated or manual pumps, and elastic rings. The main drawback of using them is that they may seem a bit cumbersome and hinder spontaneity.

Surgeries

If all other available methods to treat erectile dysfunction don’t work, think about surgery and discuss its pros and cons with your doctor. Take into account such surgeries as placing a special implant in a penis (works by improving the firmness of erections and can be either inflatable or malleable) and vascular reconstruction (it improves the blood flow).