Safe Solutions for Erectile Dysfunction

Once you’ve visited your doctor and officially been diagnosed with erectile dysfunction, it’s time to start going over treatment options. As the underlying causes of ED can vary, it’s important to choose the solution that’s best for your specific condition. Read on as we look at some of the options available.

here are some of the treatment options available for erectile dysfunction:

Lifestyle changes: For some men, making changes to their lifestyle can improve ED symptoms. This may include quitting smoking, losing weight, reducing alcohol consumption, and exercising regularly.

Medications: There are several medications available to treat ED, including sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), and vardenafil (Levitra). These drugs work by increasing blood flow to the penis, which helps to produce and maintain an erection.

Vacuum devices: A vacuum device is a plastic cylinder that fits over the penis. The device creates a vacuum that pulls blood into the penis, causing an erection. Once an erection is achieved, a band is placed around the base of the penis to maintain the erection.

Penile injections: A medication called alprostadil can be injected directly into the penis to help produce an erection. This treatment can be effective for men who are unable to take oral medications for ED.

Surgery: In some cases, surgery may be necessary to treat ED. This may involve implanting a prosthetic device into the penis or repairing a damaged blood vessel. Surgery is typically considered a last resort treatment option, after other methods have failed.

It’s important to discuss the benefits and risks of each treatment option with your doctor, as well as any potential side effects or interactions with other medications you may be taking.

Lifestyle changes

Sometimes improving one’s lifestyle is enough to offset the physical conditions that can cause ED. Exercise, improved diet, quitting smoking and reducing alcohol use will lower your weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and other risk factors. You should also take steps to get more sleep and reduce the amount stress in your life. If your ED is more psychological in nature, your doctor may recommend therapy, or even couples therapy for relationship problems.

Medications, drugs and herbs

If lifestyle changes aren’t enough, it’s time to look at other options. By now you’ve surely seen advertisements for ED medications such as Viagra, Cialis and Levitra. These drugs increase blood flow to the penis, but can also cause side effects such as nasal congestion, headaches, facial flushing and dizziness. They also aren’t safe for men who have had strokes or who currently have uncontrolled diabetes. Other options include testosterone supplements and erection-inducing injections, which have their own set of potential side effects such as acne, breast enlargement, increased urination and scarring. Natural herbs and hormones such as ginseng, DHEA and L-Arginine have been shown to be effective in some men.

Medical devices 

Stimulators and pumps are another treatment option. Vacuum constriction devices such as the Medintim Vacuum Pumps are designed to stimulate the pelvic nerves, and pull blood into the penis before intercourse.. They can also be used for strengthening and rehabilitation if your erectile function has been reduced by prostate cancer treatments or a spinal cord injury.

With so many potential reasons for developing ED, there is no universally effective solution. As such, you and your doctor may need to try multiple treatments before finding the best long-term option. When lifestyle changes and medications aren’t the answer, consider Urology Health Store Canada's selection of vacuum systems, pumps, stimulators and pelvic training programs! 

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