Pros and Cons of ED cures

The reluctance of men to see a doctor about erectile dysfunction is one of the major problems for doctors around the world. In addition, male psyche in terms of its sexual characteristics is extremely vulnerable. Meanwhile, modern medicine has a very considerable array of tools aimed to help such patients.

Basically, any measure aimed at the improvement and normalization of all body functions, can be considered as a means of restoring erectile function. Therefore, in combination with other therapeutic measures there are often used physiotherapy, hyperbaric oxygenation, magneto-and laser therapy.

Unfortunately, when the erectile dysfunction is of organic form, very often doctors are not able to completely rid the man of the underlying disease, which led to problems with erection. In such cases symptomatic treatment is applied, i.e. treatment, purposed merely to restore the ability of men to a normal erection. A number of methods are developed for the purpose. Let's talk about each of them.

Therapeutic local negative pressure

The essence of this method is quite simple. Before intercourse the man puts his penis into a special container, tightly pressing it to his body, in which a pump creates a negative pressure. Under its influence penile arteries dilate and erection occurs. Before removing the penis from the tank at its base is put on a special harness, which blocks the venous outflow of blood from the corpora cavernosum. As a result, achieved erection is sufficient to carry at least one sexual intercourse. This technique distinguishes its low cost, painless, and complete security.

But the disadvantage of the technique is uncomfortable to use and relatively low quality of erection, which is achieved by using this method. Also a man have to keep the device close by him all the time to assure own sexual life, moreover the need of this therapy might be embarrassing to be explained to a sexual partner.

Intra-cavernous introduction of drugs

It was the very first way of artificial achieving an erection, it is used since 1975. Essence of the method lies in the fact that before the intimacy the man produces injection of vasodilator drug in the corpus cavernosum of the penis. The result is high quality and long-lasting erection. The selection of the drug must be strictly individual, but it should be used not more than 1 time per week.

The disadvantages of this method are, first of all, the inconvenience in use, because the willpower to carry out injections into own penis might not be enough in every man. Secondly, it may cause the relatively large number of complications. Initial drugs of this group often caused the development of priapism - a painful persistent erection unrelated to sexual stimulation. And too-frequent injections in the cavernous tissue can lead to its hardening. However, modern drugs are reasonably safe for use, when specialist's directions are followed.

Intra-urethral suppository introduction

According to this method, a man 20 minutes before the intercourse should apply a special device to enter into his urethra a dose of a drug that provides a quality erection for at least 1 hour. This cure is obviously created by those who managed to dare and use intra-cavernous introduction, but were looking for more often then one-time-per-week intercourses.

The disadvantages of this method are the high inconvenience of use along with uncomfortable application and fairly high cost of drugs for intra-urethral introduction. One well-known urologist said that this method has made the sexual act to be truly "golden".

Drug therapy

A number of drugs which action is into generally improving body tonus, blood pressure, restorative action, some of which are containing vitamins and trace elements that indirectly contribute to a slight increase in the intensity of blood flow in the vessels of the penis, thus makes possible their use to get rid of erectile dysfunction. Nowadays, there are a huge number of such drugs; the use of some of these drugs is significantly exaggerated in their effect on erectile function. However, all these drugs have one common advantage - they have a beneficial effect on the organism as a whole and not likely to cause any complications.

The only drugs which significantly increase blood flow to the penile artery, which was proved by clinical trials, are the famous Sildenafil Citrate, namely its active ingredient, Sildenafil Citrate, and Tadalafil. These drugs were a very large step into the treatment of erectile dysfunction, but, unfortunately, yet they can not help all patients. The drugs can not be used by men with certain health conditions like high blood pressure.

Vascular surgery on the penis

As mentioned above, erectile dysfunction is often caused by pathological changes of the vessels of the penis. To correct this state has developed a number of methods of surgical interventions on blood vessels of the penis. The methods are aimed, on the one hand, to enhance the inflow of arterial blood to the penis, on the other hand, the difficulty of the venous outflow.

Unfortunately, none of these techniques can guarantees 100% results (all the more that any surgery in this area carries the risk of damaging the nerves responsible for erectile function). The effectiveness of the cure in different situations,  is ranging from 20 to 80%. Nevertheless, thousands of men around the world regained the ability to complete sexual life with such operations.

Endoprosthesis penis

The most radical way to restore erectile function, when no other method is efficient, is installation of the special prosthesis in place of the corpora cavernosa of the penis. Prostheses for these purposes can be of different types. The simplest of them are semi-rigid rods, which when setting them in place of the corpora cavernosa of the penis leads him into a state of constant erection. An achieved erection is not of high quality and life of the man with a constantly erect penis has a number of features, but the purpose of the operation is reached - the man is returned the ability of sexual life. There are modifications of this prosthesis like prosthesis with a peculiar joint. When needed, the prosthesis is turned into "working position", and all the rest of the time it is settled parallel to the hips.

More recent achievement of phallus prosthetics is the creation of more complex devices. In new prostheses the cavernosum is replaced with special elastic cylinders. A reservoir with fluid, which fills these cylinders, is located next to a suprapubic bladder and a pump-action device is placed into the scrotum. Before intercourse a man or his partner pumps fluid into the cylinders, till an erection is developed. Then after the intercourse man weakens the pressure in the cylinder, and the penis returns to a calm state.

The disadvantages of endoprosthesis of the penis are extremely high cost of operations, the possibility of complications (inflammation around the prosthesis, perforations, or while using the latest type of implant - the failure of its mechanism), as well as the total irreversibility of the surgery, because the cavernosum of penis is removed.

In conclusion, the most important is to consult a qualified specialist in the field of urology and andrology or find the help of literate sexologist, whenever you are not able to get or maintain an erection. It's always better to prevent than treat, so to minimize your chances to experience erectile dysfunction, maintain a healthy lifestyle, eliminating smoking, alcohol and drugs. Always consult your doctor before taking any medicines, keep a regular sex life without long periods of abstinence or sexual excesses. If you follow these simple recommendations, you are likely to get a long sexual life full of enjoyment.