Can you get surgery for erectile dysfunction?

If other forms of therapy have been unsuccessful in resolving your erection difficulties, your doctor might refer you to a urological surgeon for a surgical procedure. According to eMedicineHealth.com, such procedures usually are undertaken to accomplish one of three goals:

Implantation of a prosthetic device in the penis. Such a device is usually either malleable or inflatable. With a malleable prosthesis, the man can physically manipulate his penis into an erect or semi-rigid position suitable for intercourse. For an inflatable prosthetic, two cylinders are implanted within the penis along with a reservoir placed beneath the tissue of the lower abdomen and a pump device in the scrotum. When the pump is activated, it draws fluid from the reservoir to fill up the penile cylinders, thus creating an erection.

Reconstruction of the arteries within the penis to increase blood flow, thus making it easier to achieve erection.

Blocking off veins within the penis that carry blood away, thus allowing an erection to be maintained.

Can you get erection pills at CVS or other pharmacies

It depends on exactly what you mean by “erection pills.” Like most American pharmacies, CVS can sell you prescription impotence medications, such as Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra, providing you have a prescription from your doctor. Perhaps as early as 2017 or 2018, you may be able to buy an over-the-counter version of Cialis from CVS and other U.S. pharmacies if the FDA approves Sanofi’s proposal to market Cialis OTC under a licensing deal with Eli Lilly & Company.

If by erection pills, you’re thinking of natural remedies, most CVS stores as well as other U.S. pharmacies have a section of the store devoted to dietary and health supplements, some of which have been reputed to help overcome erectile dysfunction. These substances, mostly plant-based in origin, can be purchased over the counter. Supplements that fall into this category include Panax ginseng and Rhodiola rosea.

Can you get erection injections? How much do they cost? Does insurance pay for them?

For a number of men, penile injection therapy helps them to successfully overcome their problems of erectile dysfunction. Although a urologist or other specialist may perform the first few of these injections, primarily so the optimal level of dosage can be determined, you will eventually be doing these injections yourself if you find this therapy works for you.

Some of the most widely used medications used for these injections are Caverject (alprostadil), Pavabid (papaverine), Bimix (alprostadil and papaverine), and Trimix (alprostadil, papaverine, and phentolamine). The cost of these injections varies based on the medication used, the dosage required to achieve erection, and the part of the country in which you’re located. Five 20-microgram syringes of Caverject cost roughly $190, or $38.50 per injection.

According to eMedicineHealth.com, most insurance plans cover injections of alprostadil, which in one study of 683 men with ED produced erections suitable for intercourse in more than 90 percent of the subjects. However, Trimix — a combination of three medications — is not covered by most insurance plans.

Can you get erectile dysfunction on Adderall?

According to Drugs.com, Adderall is a central nervous stimulant that’s most often prescribed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy, a sleep disorder that causes extreme sleepiness and occasional daytime sleep attacks. The drug contains a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, both strong stimulants.

Although WebMD lists the inability to have an erection as an infrequent side effect of Adderall, it seems that a surprisingly large number of men are reporting that they’ve experienced difficulties achieving an erection after taking Adderall for an extended period of time. In one of life’s cruelest ironies, amphetamines tend to increase sexual desire but typically cause erectile dysfunction, according to the Merck Manual.

A quick check of forum posts on this issue shows that many individuals who have been prescribed Adderall for ADHD find that the problem tends to ease after they’ve been on the drug for a while. And some say that their erections while taking Adderall are not as strong as they were previously.

Can you buy Viagra online?

While it’s certainly possible to order Viagra and other prescription medications online, buyers need to be sure that they’re dealing with a reliable U.S.-based supplier that sells only genuine FDA-approved drugs.

But be forewarned. Forbes reported in September 2013 that data presented at the World Meeting on Sexual Medicine in late 2012 showed that 77 percent of Viagra purchased online from 22 different sites was counterfeit. The author of the study, Irwin Goldstein, M.D., conducted the survey in cooperation with the global security arm of Pfizer, Viagra’s manufacturer.

So, caveat emptor, or buyer beware, is the name of the game. Place no order with an online pharmacy until you’ve thoroughly researched its operations and sponsorship. Be sure you’re dealing with a drug supplier that’s not only based in the United States but is also sourcing the medications it sells through U.S.-licensed pharmacies.

Can you buy Viagra online in the USA or do you have to get it from Canada?

Anyone browsing online for ED medications can’t help but be confused by the vast number of online vendors purporting to sell genuine FDA-approved drugs. Many of these operations are based in third world countries, and the drugs they are selling in a large number of cases are counterfeit and may even contain harmful or toxic substances.

Technically, buying prescription drugs that are filled by pharmacies outside the United States is prohibited by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, according to Bloomberg BusinessWeek. Like other states that have passed medical marijuana laws that conflict with federal laws, Maine in 2013 passed a law permitting state residents to order drugs from Canada and a handful of other countries.

To ensure that you’re buying Viagra or other prescription drugs from a reliable U.S.-based supplier, FDA suggests that you check out the website to determine the sponsoring organization, contact information, whether privacy is protected, and when the site’s information was written and/or last updated. If the website makes claims that seem too good to be true, they probably are and should be avoided.

Can I get an erection after prostate surgery?

It’s almost certain that you will experience some degree of erectile dysfunction in the first few months after prostate surgery — even nerve-sparing procedures — or radiation treatment for prostate cancer, according to the Prostate Cancer Foundation. The foundation says the explanation for this is fairly simple: “The nerves and blood vessels that control the physical aspect of an erection are incredibly delicate, and any trauma to the area will result in changes to the natural order.”

But don’t give up hope. PCF says that within one year after treatment many men with intact nerves will see significant improvement in their ability to achieve an erection. Roughly 40 to 50 percent of men who’ve undergone nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy will have returned to their pre-treatment function. That number grows to nearly 60 percent with two years of treatment.

Using Viagra, Cialis, or another prescription impotence medication can help the vast majority of men who’ve undergone nerve-sparing radical prostatecomy to successfully achieve erections, according to PCF.

Can exercise help with ED?

If it’s good for your heart, it’s good for your penis. We’re not sure who to credit for this bit of wisdom, but it’s true. Because strong blood flow to the penis is necessary to achieve and maintain an erection, anything that improves blood flow throughout the body benefits both your heart and your penis. And exercise is no exception.

The Cleveland Clinic cites a number of epidemiological studies that show a link between diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and heart disease. Lifestyle changes, such as beginning a routine of regular physical activity and eating a healthy diet, can reduce some of these risk factors and thus make it far less likely that you’ll fall victim to either heart disease or ED.

Just what form of exercise or physical activity is best for you should be decided in consultation with your doctor. Brisk walking for 20 to 30 minutes daily or using the treadmill at your gym can be a good start.

Can condoms help with premature ejaculation?

For many who experience premature ejaculation, using a condom — the thicker the better — reduces sensation to the penis enough to allow them to last longer during sex. If using a regular condom fails to get the results you’re hoping for, your next best bet, according to MensHealth.com, is to use a desensitizing condom.

These performance-enhancing condoms usually have a numbing agent, such as benzocaine or lidocaine, on their inside lining. If you have very sensitive skin or have difficulties achieving erections, a desensitizing condom may be problematic for you. If you’re not sure how one of these condoms will work for you — or even if it will — MensHealth suggests trying one during masturbation before you use it with a partner.

The numbing agent used inside these condoms usually allows a man to last a few minutes longer during sex. MensHealth warns against trying to duplicate these desensitizing effects without a condom by applying lidocaine or benzocaine to your penis because it could cause a loss of sensation for your partner.

Can antidepressants cause ED?

Antidepressants may lift your spirits, but in doing so they can make it more difficult for you to achieve an erection. It’s a cruel irony. Depression itself causes sexual dysfunction, but a common side effect of almost all classes of antidepressants is erectile dysfunction, according to JohnsHopkinsHealthAlerts.com.

Fortunately, the incidence of ED varies depending on the antidepressant you’re taking. In a study published in the “Journal of Clinical Psychology,” researchers found that 37 percent of those taking antidepressants experienced sexual dysfunction. The lowest rates of sexual side effects occurred among those taking Wellbutrin (22 percent) and Wellbutrin SR (25 percent).

Moderate rates — 30 to 40 percent — of sexual dysfunction were observed among those taking Celexa, Prozac, Effexor, Effexor SR, and Zoloft. Sexual side effects were highest — above 40 percent — among those taking Remeron and Paxil.

On the brighter side, a study published in JAMA showed that Viagra improved symptoms in more than half the men with antidepressant-induced ED.