The first line treatment for ED is the PDE5 inhibitor medications Viagra, Sildenafil, Cialis, Tadalafil, Levitra and Spedra. They are all recognised as being effective in treating the condition in the majority of cases. Are sex counselling and surgery needed to treat erectile dysfunction (ED)?
While most ED patients are effectively treated with medication, the Massachusetts study also showed that, for some, the disorder is a harbinger of heart disease. Dr. Walker, who treated patients at the Yale Medicine’s Cardiovascular and Sexual Health Clinic, estimates that ED is a cardiac risk factor in 10 percent to 20 percent of patients who do not have other risk factors for heart disease.
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Preference for Viagra isn’t just a sugar-pill thing, either; there are differences in dosage to consider. Viagra commonly comes in 25mg, 50mg, and 100mg doses, with a typical dose of 50mg prescribed at the outset for men under 65. Sildenafil, meanwhile, comes in a broader range of options, including 20, 30, 35, 60, 80, and 100 mg. So, it’s the same active ingredient (sildenafil), which acts in the same way in the male body. But you may experience different levels of efficacy and side effects depending on the dosage.
Erectile dysfunction is the persistent inability to achieve or maintain an erection that allows for sexual activity. This is a common male sexual disorder, especially among older men. Forty-four percent of men between the ages of 60 and 69 years are affected by erectile dysfunction and 70 percent of men over the age of 70 have difficulty maintaining an erection. Among men under the age of 40, only about 5 percent suffer from erectile dysfunction. (3)
Recently, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a safety announcement regarding TRT. In part it reads ‘The benefit and safety of these medications have not been established. We are also requiring these manufacturers to add information to the labeling about a possible increased risk of heart attacks and strokes in patients taking testosterone.’37
The bark of the African evergreen yohimbe tree contains a compound called yohimbine, which has been traditionally used as an aphrodisiac.
Ginsenosides are the chemical present in panax ginseng extract that provide the artery opening and benefits as well as improvements to overall heart health.
Besides PDE5 inhibitors and among second-line therapies are VCDs which are clear plastic chambers placed over the penis, tightened against the lower abdomen with a mechanism to create a vacuum inside the chamber. This directs blood into the penis. If an adequate erection occurs inside the chamber, the patient slips a small constriction band off the end of the VCD and onto the base of the penis. An erection beyond 30 min is not recommended. These devices can be a bit cumbersome, but are very safe.40
chest pains – if this happens during or after sex, get into a semi-sitting position and try to relax (remember do not use nitrates for chest pain while taking tadalafil)prolonged and sometimes painful erections – if you have an erection that lasts for more than 4 hours, contact a doctor immediatelya sudden problem with your eyesight or hearinga serious skin reaction – symptoms may include red raised patches on your skin or red spots (hives), a swollen face and swelling around the eyesseizures or fitsSerious allergic reaction Immediate action required: Call 999 or go to A&E now if: you get a skin rash that may include itchy, red, swollen, blistered or peeling skinyou're wheezingyou get tightness in the chest or throatyou have trouble breathing or talkingyour mouth, face, lips, tongue or throat start swelling
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Although other issues such as nerve damage and hormone abnormalities can also lead to erectile dysfunction, the failure of the blood vessels to dilate properly is one of the more common causes, Wittert said. "This is an early abnormality in the pathway to more serious heart disease."
Repair blood vessel blockages to improve blood flow to the penisBlock veins to prevent blood from leaking out of the penis
Partners should try and talk about the condition with the sufferer, as this can help alleviate some anxiety and let him know that you are ready to confront the condition as a partnership, rather than alone. As much open communication as possible can be key.
May be taken with or without food, and with a moderate amount of alcohol (three drinks). Drinking more than that can increase the chances of side effects like rapid heart rate, low blood pressure, dizziness, and headaches. Grapefruit juice should be avoided
These drugs work in response to sexual stimulation and must be taken at least half an hour to two hours before sexual activity. Drawbacks include a loss of spontaneity and cost. In addition, high-fat meals can delay the onset of action. A vacuum erection device Urethral suppositories Penile injections
Rose essential oil works to fight stress and anxiety, two causes of erectile dysfunction. It’s also known to help balance sex hormones and improve libido. A 2015 double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled clinical trial that was published in Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment found that rose essential oil was able to improve sexual function in males with SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction and major depressive disorder. Using rose oil improved the participant’s self-rated symptoms of depression and helped to improve sexual dysfunction that was caused by medication use. (30)