Erectile dysfunction

There is a high prevalence and incidence of erectile dysfunction (ED) worldwide, and screening should take place as part of routine health assessment.

May be associated with established cardiovascular risk factors or be a precursor to significant cardiovascular, psychological, or endocrine disease.

Treatment using oral phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors is first line therapy.

The five treatment options include pills, injections, suppositories, vacuum devices, and penile implants. Treating hypogonadism with testosterone supplementation may be regarded as a sixth option, though not currently a definitive organic ED treatment.

Complex patients and treatment failures should be evaluated by a urologist if continued therapy is desired.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is defined as the inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for sexual performance.[1]National Institutes of Health. Impotence: NIH consensus development panel on impotence. JAMA. 1993 Jul 7;270(1):83-90. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8510302?tool=bestpractice.com