Taking On Erectile Dysfunction

Many men with ED often find that their erectile dysfunction can be related to other health issues like heart disease or diabetes -- and by a host of medications used to treat other health conditions.

Or, as in the case of one WebMD Erectile Dysfunction Community member, "other health conditions" may mean that he can’t take standard prescription drugs that are often used to treat ED. His doctor advises him to also stay away from herbal supplements, but, he says -- he's not ready to give up on sex.

Sheldon Marks, MD, advises him to make sure that he's consulting a urologist about his ED, not a general practitioner or another type of specialist. Many doctors, Marks says, have told men that they cannot take any of the ED medications when, in fact, they can often safely take these medications.

Marks also suggests that a penile pump may be an effective ED remedy. The pumps have been used for years -- with men and their partners reporting good sexual experiences. A penile pump can be prescribed by a doctor.

One man observes that his health conditions are the "perfect recipe" for ED: diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Traditional prescription drugs no longer work for him, and his doctor is telling him that diabetes is rendering him an unsuitable candidate for a penile implant. He wants to know if there are other options available to him.

Another man reports that he has had four bypasses, angina, high blood pressure, as well as diabetes, and he still obtained a penile implant. He suggests seeking out a urologist who performs at least 100 implant procedures annually, noting that many men with diabetes do have penile implants.