There are various erectile dysfunction treatment options currently available. Prescribed drugs, vacuum pumps or penile implants are all common treatment options. To determine what is the best treatment for your erectile dysfunction, is the job of a qualified physician.

Viagra is perhaps the most well known erectile dysfunction drug and treatment option. Viagra was approved in 1998 by the FDA, and is one of a class of PDE-5 inhibitors that includes Cialis and Levitra.

Each pill works in slightly different ways and carries a different dosage recommendation. However, in essence, the function of all of these drugs is to enhance blood flow to the penis.

As you may know the corpora cavernosa is a cylinder of spongy tissue containing smooth muscles, arteries and veins located in the penis. During stimulation of the penis, nerve signals generate the release of hormones that produce nitric oxide. That has the immediate effect of relaxing the muscles, resulting in blood flow to the tissue leading to stiffening and elongation of the penis.

There are various conditions which can inhibit blood flow, however Viagra and these other major drugs all rely on focussing on this physical cause. These erectile dysfunction drugs have been used my million's of men worldwide with little side effects and promising results.

There are also drug options which require injection. This may seem a slightly more aggressive form of erectile dysfunction treatment- however it is not as invasive as you may think. Needle injection therapy, for example, works by injecting alprostadil (prostaglandin) into the penis. The needle used is very sharp and narrow in diameter, and therefore causes little discomfort. Other drugs applied via needle injection include: papaverine hydrochloride and phentolamine. As they are injected the response time is quicker, however there are know side effects.

Another alternate erectile dysfunction treatment delivery is commonly known as (MUSE - Medicated Urethral Suppository for Erection) In this treatment a small pellet of alprostadil, is inserted up the urethra through the small hole in the penis. This method however can produce an excessively long or hard erection. Furthermore it may also cause pain to the penis or testicles.

There are also various non drug erectile dysfunction treatments available and these may actually be more appropriate for certain patients. Vacuum pumps, for example, are available that fit over the penis and stimulate blood flow. This method is older and has been the target of much humour over the years; however put simply it does work and produces results.

Surgery or Penile Implants are a more extreme measure in terms of erectile dysfunction treatment, but are most certainly called for in certain instances. There are essentially two basic types of penile implant: malleable and inflatable.

Malleable implants use a pair of rods that are surgically inserted into the corpora cavernosa of the penis

Inflatable implants consist of a tube implanted inside the penis along with a second pump that injects fluid directly into the container. The sac is typically implanted in the lower abdomen, and the pump is placed in the scrotum. This method allows the user to extend and stiffen the penis mechanically.

In a certain cases there are external causes which need to be addressed in order to treat the erectile dysfunction. For example, blood vessel damage from diabetes may prevent an erection. One counter-measure is to re-work the arteries and/or veins directly, in order to revive normal and constant blood flow in and out of the penis.

It is completely up to the individual and their degree of condition as to which erectile dysfunction treatment will ultimately be most successful. In some cases, basic changes to the diet and more frequent exercise are sufficient to restore the ability to achieve and sustain erection. One should always consult their physician in order to decide on the most suitable erectile dysfunction treatment.