Prescription ED medications are safe and effective ways for most men to treat ED. However, not all men want to take prescription medication, and some men cannot take PDE-5 medicine safely.
Most effective form (Trimix) not covered by most insurance plans and may be quite expensive
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Diet, lifestyle, and home remedies may help prevent or treat erectile dysfunction (ED).
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It starts with your mind. To get hard, the arteries and tissue surrounding the penis need to be relaxed. But the human body is complex and we have what’s termed a ‘fight or flight response’. This is triggered by the sympathetic nervous system as a result of feeling distressed. Although historically, this was a useful tool for humans vulnerable to attack, these days, the physiological response is often a nuisance.
Half of men with diabetes will experience ED within 10 years of their diagnosis. High blood sugar levels can damage the nerves that control sexual stimulation. They can also damage the blood vessels needed to provide adequate blood flow to the penis in order to have and maintain an erection.
There have been rare reports of priapism (prolonged and painful erections lasting more than six hours) with the use of PDE5 inhibitors such as sildenafil, vardenafil, and tadalafil. Patients with blood cell diseases such as sickle cell anemia, leukemia, and multiple myeloma have higher than normal risks of developing priapism. Untreated priapism can cause injury to the penis and lead to permanent impotence. Therefore, if your erection lasts four hours, you should seek emergency medical care.
Your Guide to Erectile DysfunctionTrusted, comprehensive information and resources for ED.
New research suggests that you might be able to reverse erectile dysfunction without medication.
Journal of Sexual Medicine: “Prevalence and correlates of erectile dysfunction by race and ethnicity among men aged 40 or older in the United States: from the male attitudes regarding sexual health survey.
Many men are unhappy with their ability to get or maintain an erection, but only 5% of these men seek help. This is because most men, in general, are unwilling to discuss their sex life, even when it is going well.
A physician typically asks a series of questions to determine family and sexual history, the male's ability and frequency of erections and sexual relations, levels of satisfaction, any diminished desire for sex, surgeries or injuries near the penis, prescription medication use, and history of using tobacco, alcohol, or illegal drugs.
As already mentioned, taking certain medications, using tobacco, and drinking heavily can cause or contribute to problems with ED.
The patient can inject medications directly into the corpora cavernosa to help attain and maintain erections. Medications such as papaverine hydrochloride, phentolamine, and prostaglandin E1 (alprostadil) can be used alone or in combinations to attain erections. All of these medications are vasodilators and work by increasing blood flow into the penis. Prostaglandin E1 (Caverject, Edex) is easier to obtain; however, it is associated with penile pain in some individuals. The use of combinations of two or three of these medications can decrease the risk of having penile pain.
Men with mild to moderate kidney or liver disease will need to use lower doses of the PDE5 inhibitors. None of the PDE5 inhibitors are recommended for men with severe kidney disease, those on dialysis, and those with severe liver disease.
Spinach is good for elevating testosterone levels, coffee enhances sexual urge, avocado can be used to boost libido. Also, apple peels are said to have great effects on the prevention of prostate cancer.
Occasionally, other diagnostic tests may be needed. Depending on the severity of your ED, your doctor may order: Blood tests for hormone levelsLiver and kidney function testsThyroid testsNocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) testUltrasoundPenile injection test