Erectile dysfunction (ED) is also called impotence, and it’s a condition that prevents a man from maintaining or achieving an erection. If you have ED, you might have reduced libido. You’ll likely be diagnosed with the condition if it lasts longer than a few weeks or months. Typically, you might take medications or have implants to treat it. There are also a few natural options worth looking into.

Medications

Sometimes your doctor might recommend taking a medication for your condition. Many times, patients are recommended to take Viagra. This medication has the drug sildenafil in it. It works by causing more blood to flow to the area, allowing you to have a stronger erection. Remember it works only when you are aroused. Expect to take it about 30 minutes to four hours before sexual activity. You can get it in a strength of 25 mg to 100 mg. If you think Viagra might be for you, you can check it out to get more information.

Lifestyle Changes

Your doctor might recommend making certain changes to make your life healthier. For instance, you might lose weight or start exercising more. If you drink alcohol or smoke, your doctor may recommend stopping or significantly reducing it. Your diet also has an impact on the condition, and certain foods may be beneficial, like pistachios or cocoa. Of course, cocoa should be used in moderation since chocolate has sugar in it. Look to dark chocolate, which doesn’t tend to have as much added sweetness. Vascular problems are caused by high triglyceride levels, high blood sugar, being overweight, or high cholesterol. Eating a healthy diet may eliminate some of these risk factors. Since ED is an issue with your blood flow, keeping your blood vessels healthy may reduce your risk of the condition. Try improving your libido too. This can be done with some foods known to be aphrodisiacs, like chocolate or watermelon, or you might just want to watch some hard porn to see if it gets anything going.

Self-Administered Injections

While the thought of injecting yourself in a sensitive area might make you cringe, it might be effective if other treatments haven’t worked. It’s known as a second-line therapy, which means you’ll likely be prescribed injections if you have already tried first-line treatments like oral medications. Your doctor will prescribe you a medication to inject yourself with. No matter what kind you’re prescribed, an injected medication works by widening the blood vessels and relaxing the smooth muscles in the area. That leads to an erection. A doctor will likely do the first two injections so you can learn how to do it yourself at home. You can expect to have an erection about five to fifteen minutes after injecting yourself. In some cases, a man might need foreplay to achieve this. Depending on factors like your overall health, the erection will last about thirty to sixty minutes.

Testosterone Replacement

You’ll only be prescribed this treatment if you have low testosterone levels that cause your ED. There are several methods of delivery, all of which are non-invasive. The right one depends on your lifestyle and medical history, and your doctor will help you decide. You might get oral medications, transdermal patches, topical creams, or intramuscular injections.