Read up on Erection problems treatment options at Consumer Reports Health.

Erection problems

Key points about treatments

If you have erection problems, you can't get or keep an erection for long enough to have satisfying sex.

You may feel embarrassed or ashamed. These feelings stop many men from seeing their doctor.

Source:
Anastasiadis AG, Wilson SK, Burchardt M, et al.
Long-term outcomes of inflatable penile implants: reliability, patient satisfaction and complication management.
Current Opinion in Urology. 2001; 11: 619-623.

¹ But erection problems are very common. And thanks to recent advances in medicine, most men can find a treatment that works.

Key points about treating erection problems

Sildenafil (brand name Viagra), tadalafil (brand name Cialis), and vardenafil (brand name Levitra) are pills that are safe for most men and are likely to help.
Alprostadil is another treatment that may help. It's available as shots and pellets that you insert into your penis.
Some men find that vacuum pumps or penile rods or tubes help.
Some people find it helpful to talk to a

counselor
A counselor is a professional who is trained to help people, usually with the emotional part of their illness. Counselors talk to people about their illness. They also suggest ways that people can make changes for the better.

counselor or a

psychotherapist
A psychotherapist is a health professional who treats mental disorders by talking with their patients, rather than by prescribing medicines. There are many types of psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy.

psychotherapist. This form of talking treatment is called psychosexual therapy.
If you have a regular partner or a spouse, it may help to involve them when talking about treatments for erection problems. To learn more, see Do my partner and I need psychosexual therapy or counseling?
Be cautious about buying "herbal" treatments for erectile dysfunction over the internet. There have been instances where a product has contained undeclared (and unregulated) prescription medicine.

Sources for the information on this page:

Anastasiadis AG, Wilson SK, Burchardt M, et al.Long-term outcomes of inflatable penile implants: reliability, patient satisfaction and complication management.Current Opinion in Urology. 2001; 11: 619-623.

This information was last updated on Oct 13, 2009

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
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