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Taking Charge of Your Erectile Dysfunction Treatment

Men report greater positive results to erectile dysfunction (ED) treatment when they are given the chance to have input and to participate in achieving results. One way that men can participate in their treatment is with lifestyle changes.

Lifestyle Changes:

It is not uncommon that for some men with ED, lifestyle changes are all that it takes to correct the dysfunction and to start having normal, healthy sexual intercourse.

Lifestyle changes that may improve sexual performance may include

Cessations of smoking for those that currently smoke either cigarettes or cigars.

Obese men should make an effort to lose weight until they are a healthy weight for their age and body frame.

It is important for anyone to have an active lifestyle of physical activity that gets him or her up and moving.

Cut back on any drugs that may have harmful side effects (your doctor will advise you on which ones). Blood pressure medication and antidepressants are two common drugs that can affect erection. Medications should not be stopped, but can be adjusted or changed to a different medication with fewer side effects.

Psychological Counseling:

Counseling techniques can reduce anxiety. Sexual partners can help by learning these techniques, which when used can help to develop intimacy and stimulate the penis. Counseling is not just for those with nonphysical causes, those who suffer from physically caused dysfunction can also find stress relief from dealing with the issues of erectile dysfunction. You can help by keeping an open mind and positive attitude during sessions and when adapting what you learn at home.

Medications:

Medications have proved to be useful in the treatment of ED. They can be taken in 3 different ways: oral, injection and by insertion.

Viagra, Levitra and Cialis are the three most common medications for ED.

Injectible medications can help men to achieve stronger erections by causing the penis to become engorged with blood. Some of the commonly used injectable medications are: Alprostadil, Papaverine hydrochloride and phentolamine. Some of the known side effects from injectables are priapism (persistent erection) and scarring.

Some men have rubbed nitroglycerin on the penis to achieve an erection because it relaxes muscle.

Pellets can be inserted into the urethra (tip of penis) to achieve an erection approximately 8 to 10 minutes after inserting the pellet. Side effects from pellet usage may be aching in the penis, testicles or the area between the penis and the rectum, warmth or burning, redness from increased blood flow, and urethral bleeding or spotting.

Mechanical Devices:

Vacuum devices have been used to draw blood into the penis to achieve an erection.

A semi-rigid rubber sheath has also been designed to be placed on the penis and remain there during intercourse.

Surgery:

It is sometimes necessary to perform surgery to reconstruct arteries so that blood can flow properly to the penis, or to unblock veins so that blood can flow. Surgery is also used to implant a device used to cause the penis to become erect.