About 30 million men in the United States have erectile dysfunction (ED). Although ED is most common as men age, even young men sometimes have trouble with ED. If you have ED, you either have trouble achieving an erection or maintaining that erection until you’ve completed a sexual act.
Although ED may seem like a simple problem, especially because it’s so common, it has far-reaching implications. When you suffer from ED, your relationships may suffer, too, leading to a lack of intimacy between you and your partner. Your self-esteem can plummet. You may even experience depression or anxiety.
As an experienced urologist, Alex Lesani, MD, diagnoses and treats ED in men of all ages at our Las Vegas, Nevada, clinic. He first rules out or identifies underlying medical causes for ED, including hypertension or diabetes, then customizes a treatment plan.
In most cases, he recommends lifestyle changes first, including losing weight, quitting cigarettes and alcohol, and adopting a healthy, whole-foods diet. He may also recommend increased exercise, including resistance training, to build muscle that produces more of the male hormone testosterone.
If these measures don’t help sufficiently to restore your sex life and your confidence, he may recommend medications for ED. Drugs for ED have evolved since Pfizer first introduced its “little blue pill” (i.e., Viagra®) back in 1998. You now have more choices, so — with Dr. Lesani’s guidance — you can pick the one that best suits your needs, goals, and lifestyle.
Originally developed as a medication to treat high blood pressure and angina, sildenafil citrate (i.e., Viagra) turned out to have an interesting side effect: It helped men in clinical studies achieve better erections.
Viagra stimulates nitric oxide production in your heart and expands your blood vessels. Open, clear blood vessels allow blood to flow freely to your penis, creating a long-lasting erection.
You must take Viagra about 30-60 minutes before you want to have intercourse. Your erection may last up to 4-5 hours or until you climax. Generally, one pill is good for one erection.
Vardenafil (i.e., Levitra) doesn’t help your body produce more nitric oxide. Instead, it blocks a chemical that stops the smooth muscles in your penis from relaxing. These smooth muscles must relax for your penis to become engorged with blood.
Levitra must be taken 30-60 minutes before sexual intercourse. Like Viagra, the medication stays in your body for about 4-5 hours. Your erection should last until orgasm.
Tadalafil (i.e., Cialis) stays in the body longer than other ED drugs, which increases your chances for multiple erections and climaxes in a single day. You can choose from two formulations of Cialis: One that you take at will and one that you take every day.
Regular Cialis is taken as a single pill about 30-45 minutes before you want to have sex. The effects last between 24-36 hours or until climax.
If you opt for Cialis Daily®, you take a pill daily. Your ability to achieve an erection is continuous while taking the medication, which means that you could have more than one erection and orgasm a day.
Avanafil (i.e., Stendra), like Levitra, helps the smooth muscles in your penis relax. Stendra allows for more spontaneity than regular Cialis, Levitra, or Viagra. You only have to wait 15-30 minutes before achieving an erection. The medication remains in your body for anywhere from 6-12 hours.
None of these drugs should be taken more than once in 24 hours. If you want to have sex several times a week or more, you may do best with Cialis Daily. Before prescribing any drug for ED, however, Dr. Lesani conducts a complete physical and ensures the medications you’re currently taking aren’t contraindicated with ED drugs.
If you’d like to resume a vibrant, confident sex life, contact our discreet team for ED evaluation and treatment at 702-470-2579 today. You can also book your appointment online.
