Remedies to meet every need
Medication
PDE-5 Inhibitors
Who is it for?
It is usually the first line of treatment for ED patients prescribed by doctors
Viagra is a common form of PDE-5
How it works
These medications relax the muscles of the penis and increase blood flow to it,
allowing the patient to get an erection.
Risks
Might not work for people with very low blood pressure (hypotension) or
uncontrolled high blood pressure (hypertension), people with severe liver
disease or kidney diseases that requires dialysis.
Alprostadil
Who is it for?
If the other treatments prove to be ineffective, or you are unable/unwilling to use PDE-5 inhibitors or a
vacuum pump.
Suppository of alprostadil
How it works
By relaxing certain muscles in the penis and widening blood vessels,
which
increases blood flow to the penis and helps to cause an erection.
Risks
Possible side effects include bleeding, itchy/red penis, penile
infection,
dizziness
Natural Remedies
There are a few non-drug methods to treat ED that have shown substantial amounts of success among patients.
Pelvic Exercises
Pelvic floor exercises have long been considered a useful way for women to restore their muscle tone after giving birth, but increasing evidence is emerging that men can also benefit.
Acupuncture
Studies have shown that acupuncture helped improve the quality of erection and restored the sexual activity with an overall effect of 39%.
Red Ginseng
Red Ginseng also known as “herbal viagra”, research has shown that it is effective in treating ED.
L-arginine
Supplements & Foods
An amino acid naturally present in the body: In a 1999 research study, 31% of men with ED taking 5 grams of L-arginine a day experienced significant improvements in sexual function.
DHEA
(Dehydroepiandrosterone)
A natural hormone produced by the adrenal glands: Men with ED were more likely to have low levels of DHEA. Therefore taking it would make them more likely to maintain an erection.
Rhodiola Rosea
A study showed that 26 out of 35 men who were given the plant as treatment experienced improved sexual function.
Counselling
Psychosexual Therapy
Who is it for?
Sex therapy with a sex therapist is most helpful for men who can maintain a normal erection during sleep and show to be in perfect health, or if their ED is caused by stress, anxiety, depression or relationship conflict.
How it works
In the early stages of the therapy, several assessments will be run to assess
potential causes of the ED. Sex therapy is most effective when a man's sexual
partner is willing to be part of the treatment. Studies have shown that for men
with stress-related ED, having the partner involved in the therapy resolves the
problem 50%-70% of the time. When the man must go through counselling
alone, the results are considerably lower.
Penile Implants
Devices placed on the inside of the penis to allow the patient to get an erection, and is usually the form of treatment used when other methods fail.
Semi-Rigid Implant
Always firm, but can be bent away from the body for sexual activity & towards the body for concealment. Similar in some ways to a goose neck lamp as it maintains a certain position when not manipulated, but can be bent or straightened.
Inflatable Implant
The most commonly used penile implant, can be inflated to create an erection and deflated at other times. Squeezing the pump several times causes fluid to transfer from the reservoir to the cylinders leading to penile rigidity.
Your doctor might advise you
against implants if:
ED is situational or potentially reversible ED is caused by infection (eg, pulmonary infection or urinary tract infection) Dermatitis, wounds or skin lesions on your penis or scrotum
Pump/Vacuum constriction device
An external pump that has been reported to have helped up to 80% of ED patients get and maintain an erection.
How It Works
Pumping air out of the cylinder creates a vacuum.
The vacuum draws blood into the shaft of the penis and causes it to swell and become erect.
Once the penis is erect, slide the retaining band down onto the lower end of the penis.
Remove the pump after releasing the vacuum.
The band can be left on safely for up to 30 minutes to allow for successful intercourse.
Caution!
See your doctor before getting a VCD, as he/she can recommend treatments based on the specific condition you have.
People who should take caution before using a VCD include:
History of prolonged erection
History of bleeding disorders or use
of blood thinning medications
Diminished penile sensation
Spinal cord injury
Curvature of the penis
