7 Ways to Treat Erectile Dysfunction

Treatment for men unable to have an erection took a great leap forward when the first oral erectile dysfunction (ED) medication, Viagra (sildenafil), was introduced in 1998. But there have been strides recently in a range of other ED treatments too, ranging from over-the-counter pumps to surgical implants and suppositories.
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2. Injections

If oral medications don't work, a doctor might recommend injecting medication directly into the base or the side of the penis with a tiny needle or inserting a suppository into the urethra.

The injectable drug alprostadil is a synthetic version of prostaglandin E1, a hormone-like substance that functions similarly to ED pills. Some injections mix alprostadil with other medications—such as the vasodilator papaverine and the alpha-blocker phentolamine—to increase its effectiveness.

Your doctor can teach you to perform the injections yourself at home.

Next: 3. Suppositories

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