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Treatments

Erectile Dysfunction Treatments

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Erectile dysfunction doesn’t need to control your life. Positive lifestyle changes can help to reduce your risk and erectile dysfunction treatments are available to help restore your sex life.

Make an informed decision about your Erectile Dysfunction Treatment

More than half of men aged 40 to 70 years experience some level of erectile dysfunction. There are a range of effective treatments that can help you take back control of your sexual function. These include medications, intraurethral suppositories, penile injections, and a penile implant.

Read more about these treatments below and talk with your urologist to find the right impotence treatment for you.

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Navigating your erectile dysfunction treatment choices

Penile implants

A ​penile prosthesis is a permanent impotence therapy that allows direct control of both the timing and duration of an erection. There are a few different kinds of penile implants, but they have a similar mechanism.

For example, Inflatable Penile Prostheses (IPPs) include a pair of cylinders implanted in the penis, a pump placed inside the scrotum and a saline-filled reservoir placed in the lower abdomen. To get an erection, you squeeze on the pump, which transfers fluid from the reservoir to the cylinders which inflates them and causes the penis to become larger and harder. With a natural looking appearance when flaccid or erect, the implant offers concealed support for an erection whenever and wherever desired.

59 million people affected by Atrial Fibrillation

Benefits

  • The surgery generally takes about an hour and is typically done in an outpatient setting
  • Most men can typically resume sexual intercourse around 6 weeks after surgery as advised by their surgeon
  • You can maintain your erection for as long as you desire
  • This is a long-term solution
59 million people affected by Atrial Fibrillation

Risk & side effects

Risks include but are not limited to

  • Requires manual skill to use
  • Device malfunction or migration that might require additional surgery
  • Loss of tissue
  • Infection
  • Postoperative pain
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Prescription oral medications

There are a range of prescription medications that can be used to treat erectile dysfunction, including names that you may be familiar with such as Viagra®, Levitra®, Cialis®, and Stendra®. These medications, known as PDE-5 inhibitors, work by relaxing the blood vessels in the penis to increase blood flow.

59 million people affected by Atrial Fibrillation

Benefits

  • Can help you achieve an erection quickly and may be effective in treating erectile dysfunction
  • Available in convenient pill form

 

59 million people affected by Atrial Fibrillation

Risk & side effects

  • Some men are not satisfied with the results of oral medication  and others may prefer certain brands of medication over others.
  • Some medications for erectile dysfunction should not be taken if you have certain health conditions and the dosage may need to be adjusted to your needs.

 

Vacuum erection devices

Mechanical vacuum devices work by creating a partial vacuum that draws blood into the penis, making it larger and firmer. The system includes a plastic cylinder, an external penile pump, and a tension ring. After using the vacuum pump to achieve an erection, you place a ring at the base of your penis to maintain an erection long enough to have sex (up to 30 minutes).

 

59 million people affected by Atrial Fibrillation

Benefits

  • An economical option that does not require prescription medications
  • Can be used shortly before an erection is desired

 

59 million people affected by Atrial Fibrillation

Risk & side effects

  • Using a vacuum device can require some practice and can interrupt the natural intimacy experienced during sexual intercourse
  • The penis may feel cold or numb and the vacuum may cause bruising that makes the penis look purplish

 

Penile injections

Your urologist can inject medicine directly into the base or side of your penis to treat erectile dysfunction. These medicines (alprostadil, papaverine, and others) work by relaxing the blood vessels of the penis so that blood can flow into them and cause an erection.

 

59 million people affected by Atrial Fibrillation

Benefits

  • Clinical studies report a 60 to 86% success rate with penile injections1,2
  • Works quickly and can produce an erection within a few minutes
  • Customised dosage means you can adjust the medication to fit your individual needs

 

59 million people affected by Atrial Fibrillation

Risk & side effects

  • You must self-administer the injection around 5 to 15 minutes before you want an erection
  • Some people struggle to inject themselves
  • In one study, only 20% continued the therapy even though it was effective1
  • As with any injection, there can be a risk of pain, bruising, bleeding, and infection at the injection site
  • There is a small risk of allergic reaction

 

Intraurethral suppositories

Your urologist will show you how to insert a small pellet suppository into your urethra using a special applicator. Once inserted, the lining of your urethra will absorb the medication which improves blood flow to the penis to help you achieve an erection.

59 million people affected by Atrial Fibrillation

Benefits

  • Works quickly; you can usually achieve an erection within 10 minutes
  • A less invasive treatment for erectile dysfunction
  • Can be administered by yourself at home shortly before sex

 

59 million people affected by Atrial Fibrillation

Risks & side effects

  • If your partner is pregnant, you should use a condom to ensure that the foetus isn’t exposed to any of the medication
  • As with other medications, there is always a risk of side effects such as penile pain, burning sensation in the urethra, and urinary tract infections
  • There is a small risk of allergic reaction to the medication in the suppository

 

An older woman reassures her older male partner after discussing penile implant treatment with their urologist

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Concerned about any of the side effects you’ve read here? Get in touch with a doctor to discuss them and get answers for any questions you may have.

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Frequently asked questions about erectile dysfunction treatments

Every patient is different and may have different underlying causes of their erectile dysfunction. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to erectile dysfunction treatment. Your urologist will provide you with the information you need to choose the right care for your needs.

There is a right erectile dysfunction treatment for everyone. Oral medications are a common first step, but they don’t work for everyone. If you don’t respond to oral medications, your urologist may recommend you try other options such as injections, pellets, topical cream, pump devices, and penile implants.

A penile implant is a discrete erectile dysfunction treatment. Once in place, your implant will be completely undetectable and no-one will know about it unless you tell them. The only sign of the surgery will be a small surgical scar just above or below the base of your penis.

You can still have erectile dysfunction treatment after prostate cancer surgery. Erectile dysfunction is a common side effect of a radical prostatectomy, which is one of the main surgical treatments for prostate cancer and a common treatment for some cases of benign prostate enlargement (BPE).

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References:

  1. Sung HH, Ahn JS, Kim JJ, et al. The role of intracavernosal injection therapy and the reasons of withdrawal from therapy in patients with erectile dysfunction in the era of PDE5 inhibitors. Andrology. 2014 Jan;2(1):45-50.
  2. Ishii N, Watanabe H, Irisawa C, et al. Intracavernous injection of prostaglandin E1 for the treatment of erectile impotence. J Urol. 1989 Feb;141(2):323-5.

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