Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction

How do health care professionals treat ED?

Health care professionals treat the underlying cause of erectile dysfunction (ED) when possible. Sometimes, the exact cause of ED is not known. Health care professionals will then focus on improving sexual function. Choosing an ED treatment is a personal decision. If you have a partner, you may want to talk together about treatments that work for you as a couple.

Lifestyle changes

Your health care professional may suggest lifestyle changes to help improve your ED symptoms, including

• quitting smoking
• limiting or stopping alcohol use
• increasing physical activity
• maintaining a healthy body weight
• following a healthy eating plan
• stopping recreational and illicit drug use

Counseling

A counselor may suggest that you bring your partner to counseling sessions.

Health care professionals may suggest counseling if mental health or emotional issues are affecting your ED. Counselors can help you lower anxiety and stress about sex. Your counselor may ask you to bring your partner to sessions for more support.

Medicines

Your health care professional may review any medicines you are taking to see if a medicine you need for another health condition is causing ED. They may suggest taking a different dose of medicine or switching to another medicine. Do not stop taking any medicines on your own. Talk with your health care professional first.

Health care professionals may also prescribe other types of medicines for your ED.

Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors

Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors are oral medicines that improve blood flow to the penis. These medicines may help you get and keep an erection.

Testosterone

A health care professional may prescribe oral medicines for your ED.

If you have ED and low testosterone, health care professionals may prescribe testosterone with PDE5 inhibitors. You may be given testosterone as an oral medicine, a patch, or a gel.

Injectable medicines and suppositories

Injectable medicines and suppositories can enhance erections. An injectable medicine causes a quick, automatic erection by increasing blood flow to the penis. Some people with ED prefer a suppository, a solid piece of medicine that you insert into the urethra.

Your health care professional will teach you how to give yourself an injection or insert a suppository.

Alternative medicines

Some people say certain alternative medicines help their ED symptoms. For safety reasons, talk with your health care professional before using dietary supplements, such as vitamin or mineral supplements, or any complementary or alternative medicines or medical practices.

Vacuum erectile device

Vacuum erectile devices (VEDs) pull blood into the penis for an erection. VEDs have three parts, including

• a plastic tube to put around your penis
• a pump that creates a vacuum
• an elastic ring that helps you to keep an erection

You may need to practice with or adjust your VED. Sometimes, VEDs can make your penis feel cold or numb. Your penis could look purple or bruised. Bruises are usually painless and will disappear in a few days. VEDs may weaken ejaculation but this doesn’t affect the pleasure of climax or orgasm.

Surgery

Most people with ED do not need surgery. If you have tried all other options and your ED does not improve, you and your health care professional may consider surgery to

• implant a device—called a prosthesis—to make the penis erect, either using a pump in the scrotum or a rod that you can control on your own
• repair arteries to increase blood flow to the penis, a procedure that works best for younger men

Your health care professional will describe the benefits and possible side effects of surgery.

Seek care right away

ED medicines that you take by mouth, through an injection, or as a suppository can have side effects, including

• erections that last longer than 4 hours, known as priapism
• vision or hearing loss after taking oral ED medicines

Call your health care professional right away if you develop these problems.

How can I prevent ED?

Lifestyle factors can often lead to ED or make its symptoms worse. Sometimes, changing a daily habit could help prevent or improve your ED.

Quit smoking

If you smoke cigarettes, one of the best things you can do for your ED and your overall health is to quit smoking. Smoking cigarettes is linked to heart and blood vessel disease, which can lead to ED.

Follow a healthy eating plan

Eating well helps to maintain erectile function. Consider working with a registered dietitian, if possible, to create an eating plan for your individual needs. You can find a registered dietitian online through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics or through your health care professional. A dietitian can create a custom meal plan for you.

Maintain a healthy weight

A healthy weight can improve testosterone levels and self-esteem, which may help prevent ED. Maintaining a healthy weight can also prevent diabetes and high blood pressure, which can cause ED.

Be physically active

Physical activity increases blood flow through your body, including the penis, and can help keep you at a healthy weight. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition, recommends at least 150 minutes, or 2 hours and 30 minutes, of moderate-intensity physical activity, such as brisk walking, each week.²

Reduce stress

Taking care of your mental and emotional health can help prevent ED. If you feel stressed, try relaxation techniques and other activities that might soothe you. A simple way to relax is deep breathing, which you can do anywhere.

Avoid drugs and limit alcohol

You can help prevent ED by avoiding recreational and illicit drugs and limiting how much alcohol you drink. Some drugs can prevent arousal or other sensations that are important for getting and keeping an erection. Sometimes, illicit drugs and too much alcohol may mask other mental health, emotional, or physical factors that cause ED.

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