Erectile dysfunction (ED) is crucial to a man's well-being and health since it impacts both the individual and the couple's lifestyle and relationship. For some males, it is impossible to achieve or maintain an erection long enough to have sexual intercourse. It is completely normal to not be able to get an erection during times of stress or bereavement. But ED is a disorder that develops when the problem persists, and one consistently struggles for an erection.
Symptoms associated with erectile dysfunction include low levels of libido or loss of sexual interest, premature ejaculation, inability to achieve an orgasm, etc.
Lack of physical activity, obesity, unhealthy diets, and cigarette smoking have all been shown to contribute to ED. Other contributing factors include diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, metabolic syndrome, hypogonadism, and psychiatric & psychological disorders.
To treat ED, the American Urological Association (AUA) guidelines advise referring patients to a mental health professional for an adjuvant therapy because an erectile function is a complex interplay between psychological and physiological components. There are non-invasive and invasive treatments available. The best and safest form of treatment is probably the changes in lifestyle and adequate management of medical comorbidities. Thus, altering one's lifestyle can stop the progression of early ED symptoms or help them to retreat.
Oral Medications
Oral medicines, taken by mouth before sexual activity, are the first line of treatment for ED. These drugs block PDE5, which maintains a high level of cGMP and encourages erections. Of these PDE5 inhibitors, sildenafil (Viagra®, Pfizer Inc., FDA approved 1998) is the most well-known. Other PDE5 inhibitors include vardenafil (Levitra®, Bayer Healthcare, FDA authorized 2003), tadalafil (Cialis®, Lilly), and avanafil (Stendra®, Metuchen Pharmaceutical, FDA approved 2012).
Intracavernosal Injections (ICIs)
For the treatment of ED, intracavernosal injections (ICIs) are an alternative to oral medications. The urethra and neurovascular bundles dorsally are avoided, and the medicine is directly injected into the penile corpora near the lateral base of the penis during the procedure.
Vacuum-Assisted Erectile Devices
The vacuum-assisted erectile device (VED) sucks blood into the penis to generate engorgement and erection. It is placed over the penis and pumped to create a vacuum. The penis is then wrapped in a band to keep it in the erection position, and it is then unwrapped to let it go back to its flaccid state.
Hormone Replacement Therapy
In elderly men who may have low testosterone levels, testosterone replacement therapy can increase energy, mood, and bone density, as well as muscular mass, weight, and sexual attraction. Due to the danger of prostate enlargement and other negative effects, testosterone supplementation is not advised for men who have normal testosterone levels for their age group. There are several different forms of testosterone replacement treatment that can be used including topical creams or gels, skin patches, injectables, and subcutaneous pellets.
There have been numerous advancements in ED therapies. Traditional treatments for ED, like dietary changes, oral medicines, injections, and penile prosthesis, have proven to be quite effective. The scientific community has been slow to accept the alternative treatment techniques like external penile prosthesis, and research on fresh approaches is still lacking.
In many cases, an underlying issue like heart disease, diabetes, liver disease, or other illnesses is linked to erectile dysfunction itself. Doctors should ask patients about their health more directly because ED can be a warning sign of developing cardiovascular disease. During a checkup, physicians may be better able to identify more significant health concerns by speaking with patients more directly about their sexual function or by having them fill out a questionnaire.
According to Growth Plus Reports, https://growthplusreports.com/report/erectile-dysfunction-market/8005, The global erectile dysfunction market was pegged at ~US$ 2.10 billion in 2021 and is expected to witness a CAGR of ~8.3% during the forecast period.