Effective ED Treatment Tips
Tips to help you and your family deal with the challenges of Erectile Dysfunction.
Effective ED Treatment Tips >
Expert Q & A
Our expert team of doctors and pharmacists answer questions about Erectile Dysfunction.
Click Here for Answers >
Erectile Dysfunction Treatment
In some cases, treatment for erectile dysfunction only requires lifestyle changes and/or counseling. In other cases, treatment may require medication, a vacuum device, implanted devices, or even surgery. Medications used for erectile dysfunction include phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors (such as Viagra, Levitra, and Cialis), alprostadil, and nitroglycerin. The type of treatment your healthcare provider prescribes will depend on the cause of ED.
Most physicians suggest that the treatments for erectile dysfunction (ED) proceed from the least invasive to the most invasive.
Some treatment options include:
- Lifestyle changes
- Counseling
- Medications
- Vacuum devices
- Implanted devices.
In rare cases, surgery involving veins or arteries may be considered for erectile dysfunction. The amount of research being done on drugs for erectile dysfunction is expanding rapidly. Men should ask their healthcare provider about the latest advances in erectile dysfunction treatment.
For some men, making a few healthy lifestyle changes may be all the treatment needed for ED. Things that may help men regain their sexual function include:
- Quitting smoking
- Losing excess weight
- Increasing physical activity.
Cutting back on any drugs with harmful side effects is the next treatment considered for erectile dysfunction. For example, drugs for high blood pressure work in different ways. If you think a particular drug is causing erectile dysfunction, tell your doctor and ask whether you can try a different class of blood pressure medicine.
Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD