According to a study conducted recently, almost 26% of men below the age of 40 experience erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction is characterized by difficulty in keeping up an erection more than 50% of the time while engaging in sexual activities. Here are some treatment options for erectile dysfunction.

PDE5 Inhibitors
PDE5 Inhibitors are a type of drug that is taken orally for treating erectile dysfunction. It is approved by the FDA as one of the treatment options for erectile dysfunction. Some of the oral drugs approved include Viagra, Cialis, Stendra, and Levitra. These pills are typically taken 60 to 90 minutes before engaging in sexual activities. These inhibitors aid in increasing the penile blood flow, thereby, improving the erectile responses. However, these are to taken carefully, especially if one is already on other medications. They should be taken only on a doctor’s recommendation.

Using a vacuum erection device
A vacuum erection device works by pumping the penile blood. It is a plastic cylinder, and the penis is placed inside it. A pump is then used to create suction so that a very low-pressure vacuum is created, resulting in an erection. Once the erection is achieved, it is sustained by placing an elastic holder in the shape of a ring on the penis to keep the penile blood intact. It may be difficult to get complete results without trying it a few times to get the hang of it. Erection with a vacuum erection device can last for up to half an hour.

Alprostadil therapy
There are drugs for treating erectile dysfunction that can be taken in a non-oral form. Alprostadil is one of them. The drug can be taken either through intracavernosal therapies or as a part of intraurethral therapies. The former refers to self-injecting the drug into the penis. This is done using a very thin needle and the individual is trained by the doctor to do so. Patients for whom oral therapy hasn’t worked have found this treatment effective. Another option here is intraurethral therapy, which involves placing an alprostadil pellet in the urethra. While this saves the person from self-injecting himself every time, the efficacy of this method is lower compared to the other.

Penile implants
Placing a penile implant is an ideal option for those whose bodies don’t agree with any of the approved drugs or have other factors that do not allow for the drugs to be taken. There are two types of implants – bendable (semi-rigid) and inflatable implant. The semi-rigid implant consists of two bendable rods, typically made of silicone that gives the firmness for erection. The implant facilitates normal functioning due to being bendable upwards for engaging in sexual activities or bent downwards for urinating. Inflatable implants are little cylindrical components with fluid in it that is inflated using a pump placed in the scrotum. Some inflatable implants also allow for controlling the firmness and size of the erection.