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Yes, Viagra and its competitors are convenient, and they work for most men. However, some people are allergic to these drugs, and some cannot take drugs like Viagra because they take beta blockers or nitrates for heart problems. For these men, injection therapy is an effective option.

Who might benefit from this type of erectile dysfunction treatment?

Men who cannot safely take drugs in the PDE-5 class of erectile dysfunction treatments benefit from having an injectable option for treating their erection problems. In particular, men who

• Take nitrates such as nitroglycerine
• Have unusually low blood pressure (hypotension)
• Have uncontrolled high blood pressure (hypertension)
• Have severe liver problems
• Must undergo dialysis for kidney disease

may benefit from injection therapy for erectile dysfunction.

Just because a man can’t safely take oral medications for erectile dysfunction doesn’t mean he’s out of options.

The actual needles used for the injections are tiny, and injections are made into the side or base of the penis. Pain from the injection is usually minor to negligible. The medications take effect right away, and most allow men to have an erection for 20 to 40 minutes. If the dosage is too high, causing an erection to last longer than an hour, it will need to be adjusted lower to avoid complications.

As popular as oral prescription medications like Viagra are for treating erectile dysfunction, other treatment methods are available. Men who think they may have erectile dysfunction should explore all their options before working with their doctor to choose the best treatment for their needs.

Self-injection therapy involves a man injecting medications directly into his penis to attain an erection. Alprostadil, papaverine, and phentolamine are the most commonly used medications, and some urologists will prepare custom mixtures of all three of these drugs to be used at once. These drugs are known as vasodilators. When injected into the penis, they allow increased blood flow into the penis, so that it’s easier to become erect in the presence of sexual stimulation. For most men, their first question upon learning about this type of therapy is.

There’s no question that oral medications like Viagra revolutionized the treatment of erectile dysfunction. In fact, the advent of Viagra and drugs

like it brought the topic of erectile dysfunction to the table and made it much less of a taboo subject than it used to be.

Talking about erectile dysfunction is easier for more couples and their doctors now.

Men who may have wondered if they were alone in suffering from erection problems likely know now that erectile dysfunction is extremely common.

Doctors, too, have learned how common the problem is, and research has shown that for most men it is an issue of blood circulation, and not

psychological problems or neuroses, which was a popular theory for most of the twentieth century.

Creatine doesn’t just come from supplements. You can increase the level of creatine in your diet by consuming various types of meat. Lamb, chicken, and turkey are good sources of creatine, offering 2 to 3 grams per serving cooked. Organic and free-range meats tend to have higher creatine levels than other domestic meats. A three-ounce serving of fish is another good source of creatine, with wild-caught fish having the most. Wild game also has naturally high levels of creatine, so if you consume venison and duck, for example, you’re already getting decent amounts of creatine.

Vegetarians have a bit harder time improving natural levels of creatine, but they can do so by consuming foods high in the amino acids that make up creatine: argine, glycine, and methionine. Oats, peanuts, and soybeans are good sources for these amino acids, as are spinach, seaweed, and sesame seeds.

The phenomenon of “too much of a good thing” applies to creatine. While it’s necessary for good muscle performance and bodily energy use, too much can stress the kidneys, quash sex drive, and even result in erectile dysfunction. Your best bet is to ensure you get sufficient creatine through the foods you eat, and if you choose to take supplements, be sure to inform your doctor, particularly if taking creatine causes any of the side effects listed above.

Creatine doesn’t just come from supplements. You can increase the level of creatine in your diet by consuming various types of meat. Lamb, chicken, and turkey are good sources of creatine, offering 2 to 3 grams per serving cooked. Organic and free-range meats tend to have higher creatine levels than other domestic meats. A three-ounce serving of fish is another good source of creatine, with wild-caught fish having the most. Wild game also has naturally high levels of creatine, so if you consume venison and duck, for example, you’re already getting decent amounts of creatine.

Vegetarians have a bit harder time improving natural levels of creatine, but they can do so by consuming foods high in the amino acids that make up creatine: argine, glycine, and methionine. Oats, peanuts, and soybeans are good sources for these amino acids, as are spinach, seaweed, and sesame seeds.

The phenomenon of “too much of a good thing” applies to creatine. While it’s necessary for good muscle performance and bodily energy use, too much can stress the kidneys, quash sex drive, and even result in erectile dysfunction. Your best bet is to ensure you get sufficient creatine through the foods you eat, and if you choose to take supplements, be sure to inform your doctor, particularly if taking creatine causes any of the side effects listed above.

Your doctor may test your blood for creatinine, which is a waste byproduct of creatine.

If you should visit a urologist because of concerns about erectile dysfunction, he or she will probably do a test for something called creatinine. Creatinine, which is a byproduct of creatine usage, is a waste product in the blood that is filtered by the kidneys and passes out of the body in urine. Creatine, whether generated naturally by the liver, or consumed in foods (meat and fish are good sources) or supplements, is necessary for bodily function, but creatinine doesn’t perform a critical function and must be eliminated from the body so levels don’t build up dangerously.

People who are more muscular will produce more creatinine. However, high creatinine levels can also be caused by kidneys that aren’t functioning well and can’t filter creatinine out of the blood sufficiently. Therefore, urologists often check for creatinine levels because it can give clues about how well kidneys function. Kidney function is intricately tied in with how well the heart functions and how well the body processes glucose (which is why diabetics are prone to kidney disease). And as you may already know, diabetes and heart disease are associated with erectile dysfunction.

Whether or not your doctor checks your creatinine levels, it’s important to mention if you take creatine supplements, and if so how much and how often.

Your doctor may test your blood for creatinine, which is a waste byproduct of creatine.

If you should visit a urologist because of concerns about erectile dysfunction, he or she will probably do a test for something called creatinine. Creatinine, which is a byproduct of creatine usage, is a waste product in the blood that is filtered by the kidneys and passes out of the body in urine. Creatine, whether generated naturally by the liver, or consumed in foods (meat and fish are good sources) or supplements, is necessary for bodily function, but creatinine doesn’t perform a critical function and must be eliminated from the body so levels don’t build up dangerously.

People who are more muscular will produce more creatinine. However, high creatinine levels can also be caused by kidneys that aren’t functioning well and can’t filter creatinine out of the blood sufficiently. Therefore, urologists often check for creatinine levels because it can give clues about how well kidneys function. Kidney function is intricately tied in with how well the heart functions and how well the body processes glucose (which is why diabetics are prone to kidney disease). And as you may already know, diabetes and heart disease are associated with erectile dysfunction.

Whether or not your doctor checks your creatinine levels, it’s important to mention if you take creatine supplements, and if so how much and how often.

Creatine is produced naturally by the liver and is known as a nitrogenous organic acid. It is used throughout the body, but particularly by muscle cells to generate energy. Creatine is made up of three amino acids:

• L-arginine
• Glycine
• L-methionine

The parts of the body that have high energy demands, like the brain and skeletal muscle, are the main users of creatine, and the vast majority of creatine is stored in skeletal muscle.

Most creatine is stored in skeletal muscle tissue.

Creatine can also be taken as a supplement. Athletes sometimes use it in high-intensity training periods. Indeed, there’s evidence that creatine supplements improve athletic performance, with one study suggesting that it increases the maximum performance of high-intensity anaerobic work (life weight-lifting) by up to 15%. It is associated with higher body mass and a total body water volume.

A study out of Australia, along with one done in the UK, found that creatine supplementation can improve memory and brain power, preventing a decline in attention that can occur during oxygen deprivation. Researchers are interested in whether it might be used to improve brain function in elderly people.

This all sounds terrific, right? So why aren’t we all taking creatine? Well, too much creatine can cause problems, and even normal supplementation can cause side effects like nausea and stomach pain. People who have kidney disease need to avoid creatine supplements, as do people with diabetes. There’s also some concern that excess creatine can affect erectile function, and not in a good way.