What is erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction (impotence) is the inability to get or keep an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse. About half of all men between the ages of 40 and 70 will suffer from this at some stage. It could be a sign of more serious disease, so you must see your GP if this persists for a few weeks. Your GP will make an initial assessment including a physical examination and some blood tests. This may include a check of your blood sugar, cholesterol, testosterone and in some cases prostate blood test PSA.

What treatment options are available?

At North Devon Urology, we will make an assessment of the most likely cause of your erectile dysfunction. In most cases it is due to a combination of factors. Apart from advice about general health, we can in the first instance advise you about the most appropriate oral medications (tablets). These include tablets such as Viagra. In some cases you may also need to have additional testosterone treatment and we will advise you about this. We will also discuss second line treatment options if tablets do not produce the desired result. These include medicated cream, medicated urethral pellet, injection into the penis and vacuum device. In most cases, with a combination of the above mentioned strategies, we will be able to improve your sex life.