Depending on the cause of prostate disease affecting the inability to achieve a healthy and firm erection, treatment will very. Therapies include the use of phosphodiesterase inhibitors 5 (which is by far the most common and most effective treatment, although special caution should be paid by cardiovascular patients), hormone replacement therapy (or other form of therapy that can correct the hormonal imbalance if the problem is not low in testosterone than in elevated values prolactin), intracavernosal injection of alprostadil, use of one of the methods of surgical treatment or alternative methods.
Sometimes it is possible to restore erectile dysfunction by altering the current treatment/therapy, as erectile dysfunction may be androgenic (and therefore may be caused by certain antihypertensive, hormonal, antiepileptic, antidepressant, antihistamines and similar medication).
It should be noted that there is still no clear evidence that the use of medicines for the treatment of erectile dysfunction has a positively affect on reducing cardiovascular risk. However, there are some reports that indicate that systematic hormonal replacement therapy in low testosterone males (as well as in the use of phosphodiesterase inhibitors 5 in diabetics) is associated with lowering some cardiovascular risk factors, as well as an increase in life expectancy.
The clinical confirmation of these findings is yet accepted by the medical community, however it should be noted that the treatment of erectile dysfunction in combination with standard treatment of hypertension, treatment of diabetes and hyperlipoproteinemia, and the regulation of body weight and stopping smoking may result in significant positive health outcomes.
Finally, it should be noted that erectile dysfunction is a disorder that profoundly affects all aspects of men’s life and that the treatment is of greatly beneficial if taking a multidisciplinary approach (the importance of engaging an urologist, endocrinologist, psychiatrist, psychologist) is definitely the best path in addressing this issue.
Treatment Options:
Non-invasive Treatments:
- Regular doctors consultation and monitoring
- Medication/psychotherapy
- Vacuum equipment and aids
Invasive Treatments:
- Transurethral medication
- Intrachanotomic injections
- Application of prosthesis – penis implants
- Surgical reconstruction of arteries and veins
Medication:
Medication for the treatment of erectile dysfunction include medicine’s such as; sildenafil, apomorphine, phentolamine and testosterone. To date, the most well-known treatment of erectile dysfunction has been with sildenafil. The medicine is taken one (1) hour before sexual intercourse. Its efficiency is related to sexual stimulation, which allows for an erection to be achieved and maintained. It must me noted that sildenafil by itself is not an the initiating factor of an erection, nor can it result in unwanted and/or prolonged erections. The medicine works for up to four (4) hours after administration.
Injections: This method consists in injecting alprostadil, which is a synthetic version of the prostaglandin E hormone and is delivered directly into muscle tissue. Despite the fact that the ‘needles’ are very small, this may still be an an uncomfortable experience for some patientest.
Hormones: Testosterone is a hormone that is produced by the testicles, and responsible for the normal development of male sexual characteristics. Additionally, testosterone improves circulation and regulates the expansion of blood vessels. This treatment is generally used for men who have shown a reduction/decreased levels of testosterone in the blood.
Prosthesis and Surgical Procedures: This treatment introduces fluid-filled tubes, or even requires surgical procedures on the male sexual organ and vessels.
