| There are two types of erectile dysfunction. Rare as it is, primary erectile dysfunction means that a male has never had an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse. Secondary impotence, a more common loss of erectile ability after a normal function, normally develops slowly unless caused by an injury or sudden medical condition. Psychological problems were once thought to trigger male sexual dysfunction. But we now know that conditions such as tension, depression and fear of poor sexual performance are at the causes of only 10% to 20% of ED. In most cases it is triggered by physical factors, such as blood vessel disorders, nerve damage, penile abnormalities. Male sexual disorder can also be an adverse reaction to certain prescriptions and drugs bought over-the-counter.
Nevertheless, whatever the causes are, males who suffer from erectile dysfunction are usually concerned and feel guilty and powerless.
The U.S. FDA has sanctioned only three oral therapies to treat erection problems: Cialis, Levitra, and Viagra. All work by escalating the flow of blood to the penis, so that when a male is sexually aroused, he can attain an erection.
Cialis, Levitra, and Viagra work by a similar mechanism to trigger erections. There are some differences in how long and how quickly the drug works. Levitra works a little longer than Viagra. They both take effect in around thirty minutes. Viagra works effectively for about 4 hours, while Levitra for 5 hours. Cialis works a bit quicker (in about 15 minutes after administration), and the effects last much longer - up to 36 hours in some cases.
Though each medicine has proven powerful, none is cure-all. And they can cause health problems when interact with other drugs. Drug-to-drug interactions with nitrates or nitroglycerin heart drugs can lead to a dangerous drop in blood pressure, which can be life-threatening. More general side effects, such as pounding headaches and - in case of Viagra - visual changes can be observed.
Apart from drugs, there are other methods of treatments, such as mechanical therapies and surgery for severe cases of erectile dysfunction. The kind of therapy, therefore, is dependent upon the severity of ED. |
Article Details
