Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction


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Until recently, individuals who sought medical treatment for Erectile Dysfunction were told "It's all in your head". Physicians labeled these individuals with a psychological disorder and they were referred to counseling. Today, there are many treatment options available. The treatment option you choose should be specific and responsive to your needs and expectations as well as your partners. The following is a summary of the more popular treatment options available today:


Oral Medications. Viagra (sildenafil citrate) has changed the course of treatment for Erectile Dysfunction. There has never been so much enthusiasm surrounding a prescription medication. The medication is manufactured by Pfizer pharmaceuticals. In the first six months alone, Pfizer's sales of the Viagra tablet topped 50 million. Viagra is dispensed as a pill and ingested orally. Approximately 30-60 minutes later the drug is absorbed into the bloodstream. Viagra then functions as an inhibitor to an enzyme found mainly in the penis. By inhibiting this enzyme a series of natural occurring events take place resulting in an increased blood flow to the penis thus generating a fuller erection. Since the medication increases the levels of a naturally occurring process spontaneous erections do not occur. Order Viagra Online Now (click here)

Penile Injection Therapy uses a hypodermic needle to inject medication that is a mixture of papaverine, phentolamine and prostoglandin into the side of the penis. The medication relaxes the smooth muscle tissue of the penis allowing for an erection. These injections can be painful, result in scare tissue formation at the injection site and cause priapism, the prolonged and painful engorgement of the penis. The product is available through Pharmacia and Upjohn (Caverjet) and Scharz Pharma, Inc (EDEX) at approximately $18.00 per dose.

Urethral Inserts consist of a disposable applicator, small enough to fit into the urethra. The applicator is inserted into the urethra approximately one inch and the prostaglandin E-1 medication is released. As a result, an erection lasts 30-60 minutes. Patient acceptance is still an issue secondary to expense and the low success rate as compared to other treatments for Erectile Dysfunction. The inserts are available through the pharmaceutical company Vivus, Inc.


Vacuum Therapy works by placing a cylinder with an attached pump over the penis. The pump creates a vacuum in the cylinder, which pulls blood into the penis to create an erection. The cylinder is then removed while simultaneously a constriction band is placed at the base of the penis. This will usually keep the penis erect for up to thirty minutes. These devices range from $150-$400 and can be purchased through Mentor Urology, POST-T-VAC, Inc., and American Med Tech, Inc.

Hormonal Therapy is used to treat the small percentage of individuals who have abnormally low levels of testosterone. During the initial consultation, a physician will likely order a LH and Prolactin hormone test to exclude other causes of low testosterone levels. If appropriate, testosterone is available in a transdermal adhesive patch. Patches available are Androderm (SmithKline Beecham) and Testroderm (Alza Pharmaceuticals), at a cost of $20.00 per patch.



Vascular Surgery may involve both the arterial and venous systems. Venous ligation has been reported to be effective in patients with venous leakage. However, it is often difficult to diagnose individuals with this condition with the current testing capabilities; therefore, it is difficult to predict their outcome prior to surgery. Arterial re-vasculation procedures are limited to congenital or traumatic vascular abnormalities. Similar to venous testing, complete standardization diagnostic testing has not been established, so difficulties persists in predicting surgical results.



Penile Implants require surgical insertion of a prosthetic device. Three forms of penile prosthesis are currently available: flexible, malleable and inflatable. Flexible or Malleable rods consist of two semi-rigid, flexible rods that make the penis firm enough for intercourse. There are also inflatable prosthetic devices that produce a more natural erection. When an erection is desired the pump (located in the scrotum) is squeezed to inflate a cylinder, which creates an erection. Following intercourse, the pump is released and the penis returns to normal. These devices have been associated with postoperative infections, mechanical failure, silicon particle shedding and the risk of the initial surgery. These prosthetics are available through American Medical Systems and Mentor Urology.



Psychotherapy and/or Behavioral Therapy have been found to be beneficial in treating Erectile Dysfunction. Although the majority of causes of Erectile Dysfunction are physical, there are frequent underlying psychosocial factors involved as well. Psychotherapy and/or behavioral therapy may be helpful in individuals whom no organic cause for Erectile Dysfunction has been detected. Therapy often focuses on complications surrounding performance anxiety, dysfunctional relationships, loss of a partner, psychotic disorders, substance abuse, etc.



Partners can provide support for individuals with Erectile Dysfunction. The condition affects the relationships of more than 50 million Americans. If you are a partner, you can make a difference through support and education. For a list of Impotence Anonymous (IA®) and I-ANON® chapters, call 1-800-669-1603.

Please Note: All of the above mentioned treatments only treat Erectile Dysfunction, they do not treat the underlying illnesses or disorders responsible for the disorder. The prolonged use of some these treatments is inappropriate for individuals who have conditions such as those listed under causes of Erectile Dysfunction. Please be responsible with your health. Schedule regular appointments with your family physician and/or your urologist so they may address and treat the underlying conditions responsible for your Erectile Dysfunction.