Erectile Dysfunction Treatment: The Options
Introduction
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common male sexual disorder. It’s estimated that one in every three men will experience some degree of erectile dysfunction at some point in their life. Although it’s often associated with aging, there are many other factors that can contribute to this condition including stress, poor health, and certain medications.
Exercise
Exercise is a great way to improve your overall health and wellbeing, as well as help you to feel better about yourself.
Exercise can also have a positive impact on erectile dysfunction, as it improves blood flow to the penis. The more blood that flows in, the harder and longer you will be able to maintain an erection. Exercise can also help with weight loss if you are overweight or obese (a BMI of 25 or more), which may be linked with ED in some cases. Other benefits include improving stress, depression and diabetes management; lowering high blood pressure; reducing risk of heart disease; improving self-esteem and confidence; maintaining good mental health; reducing fatigue and boosting energy levels—all of which can positively impact sexual function.
Lifestyle changes
You can help control your condition by making changes to your lifestyle. These include:
- Maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly.
- Quitting smoking or cutting back on how much you smoke. Smoking is bad for your health in many ways, including making it harder for you to get an erection.
- Working with a therapist to reduce stress or anxiety that might be affecting your ability to get an erection.
- Cutting down on alcohol consumption, as alcohol can impair sexual function by interfering with blood flow into the penis.
Medication
Medication is the most common treatment for erectile dysfunction. Medications can be taken as pills or injections, and are effective in up to 80% of cases. However, it is important to note that medications may have side effects, including headaches, heartburn and dizziness. Additionally, they are expensive: it’s estimated that a year’s supply of Viagra will cost $1,000-3,000 per month.
Surgery
Surgery is a last resort and should not be considered before other treatments are tried. Surgery may be an option if you have tried all other ED treatments and they haven’t worked for you. It can also help if you have severe side effects from other medications, or if you have diabetes or prostate cancer that make it difficult for you to use medication to treat your ED.
The two most common surgical procedures are called penile prosthesis implantation (insertion of an inflatable silicone device into the penis) and penile revascularization (reconstruction of an artery that’s blocked). Surgery may also include removing scar tissue from the penis or reconstructive surgery after injury or infection.
Erectile Dysfunction can be treated in a number of ways.
Erectile Dysfunction can be treated in a number of ways. Lifestyle changes and medication are two options, but surgery is usually reserved for last resort. It is important to talk to your doctor before starting any treatment.
Conclusion
Erectile dysfunction is a common issue for many men. Fortunately, there are several treatment options available. Men who are having trouble getting or keeping an erection should speak with their doctor about what might work best for them and their specific situation.