If erectile dysfunction (ED) is casting a shadow over your sex life, and your overall quality of life for that matter, the first thing we want you to know is that there are solutions.
The number of men with ED is large. According to different studies done in the United States and globally, an average of one-third to one-half of men experience issues with achieving and maintaining an erection. And many of these men have found ways to reactivate their sex lives thanks to effective treatment options and lifestyle changes.
As a urology and men’s health expert, Dr. Robert J. Cornell has spent decades helping men with erectile dysfunction, so our team is clear on what works and what doesn’t. Below, we outline a few of the more successful solutions for ED.
There are many different roads to ED, but atherosclerosis — a condition in which plaque buildup in your arteries slows blood flow — is one of the most common. In fact, ED is present in moe than half of men who have cardiovascular disease.
Since blood flow to your penis is what creates your erection, we can work around this issue with PDE5 inhibitor medications that:
These medications come in oral pills, such as brand names Viagra® and Cialis®, as well as injectable forms that you use right before intercourse.
Your testosterone levels gradually fall as you get older and, if they fall too low, you can experience issues with sexual function.
If during your ED evaluation, we find that lower-than-normal testosterone levels are present, we might recommend testosterone replacement therapy.
There are steps you can take to address your risk factors for ED, which include:
When we sit down with you, we go over these risk factors to find out whether they might be playing a role. From there, we design a healthier lifestyle regimen that can go a long way toward improving your sexual function.
As examples, curbing alcohol consumption, quitting smoking, exercising, and losing weight are 4 steps that are not only proven methods for addressing ED, they boost your overall health in significant ways.
Another tool for working around ED is a vacuum device that encourages more blood flow to your penis. If you don’t like the idea of medications, this type of device works very well, and you use it right before you engage in intercourse.
If it looks like your ED is here to stay, it’s worth exploring whether a penile implant is a good solution. As the name suggests, we insert a device — either an inflatable or a bendable silicone rod — that allows you to get an erection anytime you want. Penile implants are long-lasting solutions that work very well.
As you can see, you’re not without options if your sex life has taken a hit due to ED. To figure out which approach is best, the first step is to have us perform an evaluation of your ED so we know where to target our efforts.
To get that ball rolling, please contact our office in Houston, Texas, to schedule an appointment.
