Male Impotence

Injection therapy uses alprostadil, a synthetic version of the hormone prostaglandin E that works similarly to PDE inhibitors. It is injected into the side or base of the penis using a fine needle that produces very little pain. Erection occurs in five to 20 minutes and lasts for an hour. The downside? This treatment can be expensive and may produce adverse side effects like bleeding and priapism (long and painful erections). To cut costs, alprostadil can be mixed with other drugs like papaverine hydrochloride and phentolamine.

Every prescription drug comes with a little leaflet that lists all the numerous side effects that can happen. Find that sheet of nasty small print, get out your magnifying glass if necessary and read the list. If any of the side effects could be impacting your impotence problem, talk to your doctor.

Intraurethral therapy uses a disposable syringe to insert a pellet of alprostadil two inches deep into the urethra. The pellet is about half the size of a grain of rice. Once absorbed by tissues in the penis, the drug increases blood flow, producing an erection in 8 to 10 minutes that lasts for 30 minutes to an hour. The bad news: although needles aren't involved, the procedure can be painful and uncomfortable.

Near enough every drug on the market has an alternative available. Speak to your doctor to find out if any of the drugs they have got you taking could be increasing your impotence problem. Be especially wary of drugs to treat high blood pressure, depression or a heart condition. But obviously don't just stop taking the drugs without checking with your doctor.

The most common side effects are aching in the penis, testicles, and area between the penis and rectum; warmth or burning sensation in the urethra; redness from increased blood flow to the penis; and minor urethral bleeding or spotting, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse.

Your diet is important. If you're living on a diet of junk food or other unhealthy foodstuffs, you need to change. Wean yourself off those burgers, fries and pizzas. Learn to notice your food again rather than eating on auto pilot. This doesn't necessarily mean eating up your greens like your mother told you. But you do need to pay more attention to what you are eating and make healthier choices.