In a nutshell
This study reviewed current non-surgical treatment options for erectile dysfunction (ED).
Some background
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to get or keep an erection firm enough to have sexual intercourse. It can be caused by several medical reasons. It is commonly found in aging men due to decreasing testosterone (the main male sex hormone) levels. This is called andropause. It can reduce the quality of life of patients. There are many different non-surgical treatment options for ED.
Methods & findings
The main medication for ED are PDE5 inhibitors such as sildenafil (Viagra) or tadalafil (Cialis). These are popular and commonly used.
There are new medications to treat ED. These include dopamine agonists (DA) such as apomorphine (Ixense), melanocortin receptor agonists such as Melanotan-II or guanylyl cyclase activators such as BAY60-4552. These medications work in a similar way to Viagra.
Herbal or alternative options include yohimbine, horny goat weed, and red ginseng. These currently have not been studied in a trial. There is limited evidence of their effectiveness.
Topical (local) medications, such as alprostadil, were also mentioned. These are suppositories introduced in the urethra. This is not available in the US but has promising results.
Gene therapy is another new option. Theoretically, this could lead to a long-lasting treatment but there needs to be further research in this area.
The bottom line
This study reviewed current non-surgical treatments for ED.
What’s next?
It is not recommended to start any new alternative medications before speaking to your doctor.
Published By :
Current urology reports
Date :
Jun 18, 2019
