Patient's question:
I have been experiencing issues with my erection for the past year. It's either that I can't get hard at all, or when I do, it's very soft! Plus, the duration is very short. I want to know what could be the reason for this and how it can be treated.Doctor's answer:
Considering erectile dysfunction, oral medications are the simplest and most acceptable form of treatment for ED. Non-hormonal oral medications that act on the central nervous system include: alpha-adrenergic receptor antagonists; dopamine drugs; 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptor antagonists. Peripheral-acting oral medications: PDE5 inhibitors (such as sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil, etc.), which are currently the essential drugs for treating ED, with an overall efficacy rate higher than 70%. Additionally, topical medications can be used: creams and ointments are the oldest methods for treating ED, but their effectiveness is uncertain. Lastly, hormone medications can be employed: androgen replacement therapy is primarily used to treat endocrine-related erectile dysfunction.