At the risk of sounding like a cliche, one size DOESN'T fit all when it comes to ED treatment. Fortunately, there are many good treatment options for men with ED. A man's response to ED treatment depends of many factors such as the cause of ED, the length of time ED has been present, severity of the ED to name a few. The best ED treatment is the one that works for you!
Treatment options for ED include over the counter preparations, Testosterone Replacement Therapy, oral prescription medications (ie Viagra, Levitra, Cialis and now Staxyn), Vacuum Erection Devices, Penile Injection Therapy and Penile Implants. My philosophy: whatever works for you that is safe and effective. So if an over the counter herbal works (and they might in men with mild cases of ED) then go for it. What is important is to have the appropriate evaluation of your ED and have realistic expectations. You're probably not going to respond to an over the counter oral medication if you had a non nerve sparing Radical Prostatectomy for prostate cancer, but you might if you have no risk factors such as smoking, Diabetes and you're in decent physical condition.
It's essential to have your Testosterone (T) level checked as part of the evaluation. If your T is low your ED may be successfully treated with T replacement alone. Many many who did not respond to oral medications such as Viagra or Cialis will respond if their low T is treated appropriately.
The best way to treat your ED is to start simple and move to different treatments if one doesn't work. I will treat low T first and frequently combine this with an oral medication in men with moderate to severe ED (ie Diabetic or men who underwent treatment for prostate cancer ). If this fails I will recommend penile injection therapy or a Vacuum Erection Device. When a man has tried all of the above options without success the best option is an Inflatable Penile Implant. Without question this is THE best option when a man has tried everything else without success.
I would be very happy to discuss the evaluation and best treatment options for your ED. You can call 215-563-1199 to schedule a consultation with me or contact us online.
