Treatment Options for Erectile Dysfunction
There is a lot of information out there about the best way to treat sexual dysfunction - change your diet, take a pill, have surgery. Whether you’re suffering from Erectile Dysfunction (ED), premature ejaculation, low libido, or looking to enhance your sexual performance, finding the solution that’s right for you can be daunting.
It’s best to start with a thorough evaluation of your health to fully understand your unique situation. Once I’ve helped my patients gain this clarity, I like to employ a three-pronged approach to help you improve your sexual health:
Removing Obstacles
I remind patients that ED is the "canary in the coal mine" of cardiovascular health: if erectile function is declining, it's often representative of a deterioration in overall cardiovascular health. Before prescribing any kind of treatment, I conduct extensive lab work to assess cardiovascular health, inflammation, thyroid, and hormonal health as well as evaluate diabetes/prediabetes risk. If any of these risk factors for ED are present, they need to be addressed. Oftentimes, nutrition, lifestyle, and exercise enhancements will be the answer but occasionally testosterone replacement or thyroid medication may be needed if indicated by labs.
Tailoring Medication
There are so many medications and delivery options available to treat ED: Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, oral tablets, sublingual deliveries, injectable Trimex. This is why a thorough evaluation becomes so critical - every patients’ needs are unique, so having a clear understanding of your health allows us to determine the best solution - one that is effective, convenient and affordable.
From time to time, an herbal supplement or nitric oxide boosting supplement can be effective - more often than not they are used in conjunction with medication. Another option that can be highly effective is an enhanced version of Viagra, where Viagra, testosterone and other vasodilators are compounded. While medication can be effective, it is not the only solution. In fact, they don’t work for all men and their efficacy can sometimes weaken over time. Additionally, side effects are not uncommon and many men complain of a loss of spontaneity that comes along with medication use.
Regenerative Treatments
Because the majority of ED cases are caused by a decline in vascular function and nitric oxide levels, employing treatments that improve vascular health are often the most highly effective solutions. This approach can be more expensive and they are somewhat time-consuming. However, philosophically, I prefer this treatment option as it addresses the root cause of ED. Additionally, these regenerative treatments are safe and have proven to be highly successful. In many cases, we utilize regenerative treatments to minimize the need for high doses of medication and in some cases, the need for medication is eliminated altogether.
These regenerative treatments give you improved erectile function, penile sensation, stamina, and health, as well as stronger, more frequent erections. The treatment options we most commonly recommend are:
GAINSWave therapy, in which low-intensity shockwaves are employed, has proven to be especially successful. Approximately 80% of our patients have satisfactory results.
The Priapus Shot, or P-Shot, which harnesses the power of platelet-rich plasma (PRP).
I’d be happy to tell you more about these various treatment options as well as answer any questions you have about your erectile dysfunction. Just give the office a call at 425-209-1060.