ED will affect many people at some point, and it can be a short-term or long-term condition. It affects your ability to get and keep an erection.
Long-term ED can affect your self-esteem, mental health, and even your relationships. Many treatment options are available, each with its own benefits depending on the cause of your condition.
Doctors might prescribe medications for ED, but there are also home remedies and exercises you can try. If you’re living with ED, reach out to a medical professional, who can determine any underlying causes. They will be able to work with you to create a treatment plan that’s right for your situation.
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ED medications
If you’re unable to get and maintain an erection, doctors might prescribe a variety of medications, including oral tablets and testosterone supplementation.
PDE5 inhibitors
Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors are very common in the management of ED. These work by relaxing your blood vessels, which improves blood flow to your penis and helps you maintain an erection. Examples include:
- sildenafil (Viagra)
- avanafil (Stendra)
- tadalafil (Cialis)
- vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn)
These medications still require sexual stimulation to cause an erection.
The drug that’s right for you will depend on several factors. For example, a 2021 review suggests that higher doses of sildenafil (Viagara) may be the most effective in treating ED, although higher doses come with more adverse effects. The researchers concluded the need for more comparison studies.
On the other hand, tadalafil takes the longest for your body to eliminate it, so it’s best for once-daily use and many users prefer it for this reason. The others you may need to take as and when you know you’d like to have sexual intercourse.
Research suggests that PDE5 inhibitors are usually well-tolerated, meaning they don’t have serious adverse effects, but they can still cause some side effects, such as:
- headaches
- indigestion
- nasal congestion
- vision problems
- back pain
- painful erections lasting longer than 4 hours
If you experience any of these, speak with a doctor. They may decide to change your medication.
If one PDE5 inhibitor doesn’t work for you, another may be a better choice. Each has its own benefits and drawbacks. For example, you need to take sildenafil after eating for your body to absorb it. If this doesn’t work with your lifestyle, you may prefer a different PDE5 inhibitor.
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Get free cardTestosterone
If your body doesn’t produce enough testosterone, you may have a condition called hypogonadism. Low testosterone can cause a range of symptoms, including fewer erections and a lower libido (sex drive). If you’re experiencing ED, it may be worthwhile to get your testosterone levels checked to determine whether this is the cause.
Testosterone therapy (TTh) is the main treatment for hypogonadism, where doctors administer extra testosterone to raise your body’s levels. This extra testosterone can come in different forms, including:
- Patches: One example includes Androderm.
- Gels: A common example is testosterone gel 1% (Androgel).
- Injections: Doctors usually prescribe testosterone cypionate (Depo-Testosterone) and testosterone enanthate (Xyosted).
Some 2017 research finds that TTh improves mild ED and libido in people with hypogonadism, particularly those who are unresponsive to PDE5 inhibitors. However, doctors generally prescribe TTh alongside PDE5 inhibitors, as this likely makes the overall treatment more effective.
Low testosterone may also be due to other factors, such as obesity, diabetes, or anabolic steroid use. Managing these underlying factors may help improve your testosterone without the need for TTh.
People should never use testosterone supplements without a diagnosis of low testosterone. Improper use could prevent the testicles from producing testosterone naturally.
Devices and surgery for ED
If medications aren’t right for you, healthcare professionals might recommend medical devices or surgical procedures to treat your ED.
One of the most common devices professionals might recommend is a vacuum erection device. This is a type of pump that creates a vacuum around your penis, drawing blood flow to it to create an erection. Once your penis is erect, you place a plastic ring around the base to keep the blood in the erection.
According to a 2019 review, these devices are effective in creating an erection in 90% of people, but they can be inconvenient or difficult to use.
Surgery for ED is generally considered a last-resort option. There are two ways that surgery may help with ED:
- Implanted devices: This is where a urologist implants a prosthetic device into your penis. These may be inflatable devices that you inflate with a pump or rods that let you manually change your penis position. After this surgery, the device is the only way you can have an erection.
- Reconstructing arteries: If your ED is due to blockages or damage to your arteries, surgery to repair these arteries can improve your blood flow and help you maintain erections in the future.
Home remedies for ED
There are several steps you can take at home that may help improve ED.
Manage underlying conditions
Many underlying conditions can lead to ED, including:
- heart disease
- obesity
- diabetes
- hypertension
- mental health conditions like depression and anxiety
Focusing on managing these underlying conditions may reduce ED symptoms. This may mean taking medications for these conditions. A doctor will likely ask if you have any of these conditions when you seek treatment for ED.
Improve diet and exercise
Improving your overall health can have a wide range of benefits for your body, and there is evidence that a healthy diet and plenty of exercise can help manage ED. This is likely because they help manage conditions like obesity and hypertension, which are risk factors for ED.
For example, one 2018 review suggested that 160 minutes of aerobic exercise per week for 6 months lowered erectile problems in people whose ED was caused by being inactive or having obesity, hypertension, or other cardiovascular diseases.
The same is true for a balanced diet. One 2020 investigation suggested that a healthy diet with high consumption of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and fish was associated with a lower risk of developing ED.
Quit smoking
Smoking can have serious effects on your health, including being a risk factor for ED.
A 2023 review concluded that there is significant evidence that cigarette smoking is directly associated with ED, even if we ignore the other health conditions it can cause that also increase ED risk. The researchers found that quitting smoking may be an effective management strategy for ED.
Manage stress
Life stress, including from work and relationships, may lead to difficulty maintaining an erection. The same is also true for mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. This is often difficult to overcome as ED itself can cause more stress, contributing to a cycle of stress and ED causing each other.
Managing stress where possible may help reduce incidences of ED, although more evidence is necessary.
Relaxation techniques like yoga and meditation may help reduce stress. You may also want to try talk therapies with a licensed therapist to help manage anxiety and depression.
Online care for ED
Some people may avoid seeking treatment for ED due to feelings of embarrassment and a perceived stigma around the condition.
Online care services, including Optum Perks Online Care, may make getting treatment easier. With these services, you can submit an online form answering a few questions about your symptoms, and a US-licensed healthcare professional will respond soon after to prescribe a treatment plan.
Summary
ED can be a difficult condition to live with, but many treatment options are available.
The most common treatments are PDE5 inhibitors, oral medications that can help you achieve and maintain an erection. However, if your ED is caused by low testosterone, testosterone therapy may be a better option. Doctors may also recommend devices or surgery to manage ED.
Alongside these medical options, you can try some home remedies to improve your ED, including taking steps to live a healthy lifestyle and aiming to reduce stress.
If you experience ED, consider reaching out to a doctor. There is no shame in needing a little help, and a professional can help treat your condition effectively.
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