When a man cannot attain or maintain an erection for sexual intercourse, he is said to have erectile dysfunction or impotence. This can be anything from:
A complete weakness, irregular ability, or a propensity to only have brief erections.
In the United States, over 18 million adult men suffer from erectile dysfunction. In fact, at least half of all men over the age of 50 suffer from some sort of function loss. About the fact that it is a typical male illness, it is not natural, regardless of age.
Just 10% of men seek care and half of those who do (50%) drop out because they are too ashamed to address their sexual health concerns with a doctor. It’s not enough to suffer in silence.
Our urological experts at the University of Utah Health are mindful of the ED-related sensitivities. We build recovery programs that are personalized to your individual needs in order to help you restore sexual function.
Heart Disease and ED
Often, erectile dysfunction may be a symptom of present or potential heart failure. In about 70% of cases, ED can be observed before coronary heart disease progresses.
The tiny arteries in your penis will be affected earlier whether you have heart disease or coronary artery disease (blocked blood vessels). We would often send you to a cardiologist to see whether you have coronary disease-causing your ED.
For erectile dysfunction, three pills (Viagra/sildenafil, Levitra/vardenafil, and Cialis/tadalafil) are commercially available. They’re all known as phosphodiesterase inhibitors, and they work by inhibiting a chemical that prevents erections.
Viagra was first released in 1998 (the others in 2003), and it fundamentally transformed the way men and their wives felt of erectile dysfunction.
- Viagra (Fildena, Sildalist, Aurogra 100 mg)
- Cialis (Tadacip)
Keep in mind that these drugs are enhancers, not cures; they need a sexual activity to function. These pills are often notorious for failing to function the first few days they are taken. Here are the steps to take Viagra, Levitra, or Cialis correctly:
- Take your prescription one hour before you intend to engage in sexual intercourse.
- Take the pills before or after a light meal, particularly if you’re taking Viagra. If you have a full stomach, they can not absorb well.
- You should try these pills at least four times before determining whether or not they work for you.
We will use alternative medications if pills don’t work for you or the side effects are too bothersome. There are some of them:
- Injections
- Suppositories
- Vacuum systems
- Shockwave treatment
- Surgery
ED Vacuums
A vacuum device (VED) is an external system that passes over the penis that does not contain any medications. When injected, it draws blood into the penis, which is then held in place by a special ring positioned around the base of the penis.
In general, VEDs are known to be risk-free (although there have been some very rare but serious complications).
Injections for ED
You may also inject medications straight into the penis using a tiny needle. Alprostadil (Edex, Caverject), phentolamine, and papaverine are among the medications and drug formulations available (usually given in combination as Bimix or Trimix).
Within five to ten minutes of administering this drug, you should get an erection. Your erection can last anywhere from 20 to 60 minutes.
Injections do take preparation, and having the correct dosage can be challenging at first. The first injection is usually done in the clinic to teach you how to do it and to give us a clear understanding of the correct dosage. Our patients are typically apprehensive about getting their penis injected, but they are often shocked by how painless the operation is.
Suppositories for ED
Urethral suppositories (MUSE) contain the same component (alprostadil) as ED injections, except in pellet shape. The pellet will be inserted into your urethra (urinary channel) and will melt there.
We still send the first suppository in our clinic, much like vaccinations, to make sure there are no complications and that you are happy with this.
ED Surgery Alternatives
Medical therapies for erectile dysfunction can result in satisfying erections, but they do not offer a long-term solution to the issue. They’re more like band-aids for the signs than full-fledged remedies.
The majority of men and their partners desire:
- For sexual intercourse, an erection that is firm and stimulating.
- They should have the potential to be adventurous in their sex lives.
- The ability to forecast and monitor how long an erection will last and how often they will use it, as well as the ability to predict and control how long an erection will last and how often they will use it.
- An erection that happens without the use of any instruments or other impediments.
Penile implants are currently the nearest thing we can get to a normal erection by therapy. With a satisfaction score of about 95%, implants are obviously the winner in terms of total satisfaction (compared to 50 percent for pills, 40 percent for injections, and 20 percent for vacuum devices).