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Men’s Health

Erectile Dysfunction Treatment in Salt Lake City, Utah

If you are experiencing symptoms of erectile dysfunction, explore your treatment options such as sockwave therapy with Dr. Steven Gange. Call our office today at (801) 993-1800 or request a consultation online.

Treatment Options for Erectile Dysfunction

There are a variety of methods for treating erectile dysfunction (ED). Your doctor can discuss all of these options with you in more detail. All decisions regarding your best option for treating ED should be made between you and your physician, with consideration given to your individual needs and the risks and benefits of each treatment option.

The treatment options include:

  • Drug Therapy
  • Non-drug Treatment Options
  • Penile Implants
  • Other

Drug Therapy

Drugs for treating erectile dysfunction can be taken orally, injected directly into the penis, or inserted into the urethra at the tip of the penis. The most commonly known drugs on the market today are Viagra®, Cialis® and Levitra®.

Oral Medication

There are several prescription medications that claim to help patients. These pills may help achieve erections in response to sexual stimulation:

  • Pills can help you achieve an erection quickly and may have an effect on sexual intimacy.
  • Do not provide automatic erections like injection drugs
  • Not effective in approximately 30% of cases1
  • Must take at least ½ hour to one hour before anticipated sexual activity2

Some patients may experience side effects, including:

  • Headaches
  • Facial blushing
  • Upset stomach
  • Mild and temporary visual effects

Injections

Some men may be able to gain an erection by self-injecting drugs into their penis, causing it to become engorged with blood. Potential side effects of injection therapy include fibrosis (scarring) and long-lasting painful erections

Advantages of injection therapy:

  • It can easily be self-administered
  • On-set of erection within 5-20 minutes3
  • Injections are shown to have a long-term dropout rate of 37% – 76%.4

Reasons for dropping out of drug therapy include:

  • Desire for a permanent treatment alternative
  • Inadequate response
  • Fear of needles
  • Side effects


Non-Drug Treatment Options

Penile Pumps (Vacuum Devices)

Also called vacuum constriction devices, penile pumps are devices that are placed over the penis to draw blood into the shaft. Once the vacuum creates an erection, the retaining band is slid down to the lower end of the penis and the pump is removed. You can leave the band on for up to 30 minutes.

Advantages

  • On-demand use
  • Non-invasive
  • Drug Free

Disadvantages

  • Erection is not warm to the touch
  • Learning curve
  • Delayed ejaculation

Penile Implants

A penile implant is a device that is placed into a man’s body and is designed to help him get an erection. A penile implant is a long-term treatment, that is covered by many insurance plans, which allows an erection as often as you like, for as long as you wish.

Advantages

  • Easy to use
  • Totally concealed in the body
  • Erections when desired

Disadvantages

  • Surgical Procedure
  • No longer able to get natural erections

Other Treatment Options

Your doctor can provide you with specific details about the pros and cons of each of the following treatments:

  • Lifestyle changes like stopping smoking, losing weight and eating healthier
  • Oral testosterone
  • Intraurethral suppositories (ex. MUSE®)

  1. Goldstein I, et al. Oral sildenafil in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. N Engl J Med. 1998 May 14;338(20):1397-404
  2. http://uspl.lilly.com/cialis/cialis.html#ppi downloaded 2/14/17
  3. http://www.caverject.com/faqs, downloaded 2/13/17
  4. Rajpurkar A, et al. Comparison of satisfaction rates and erectile function in patients treated with sildenafil, intracavernous prostaglandin E1 and penile implant surgery for erectile dysfunction in urology practice. J Urol. July 2003; 170(1):159-163.

Cialis®, Levitra®, Viagra®, MUSE® are trademarks of their respective companies.

 

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Schedule an Appointment for Erectile Dysfunction Treatment

If you are suffering from erectile dysfunction, know that you are not alone and it is treatable. Dr. Gange provides comprehensive diagnosis and treatment to patients suffering from erectile dysfunction in Salt Lake City, UT. He will take the time to answer any questions you may have to determine the best treatment option for you. For more information, contact our office at (801) 993-1800 and schedule an appointment today!

(801) 993-1800

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I have seen Dr. Gange for a number of years and developed the typical symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate. During my annual urologist visit, Dr. Gange laid out my options. After doing some personal research, I elected to have the Urolift procedure performed by Dr. Gange on an outpatient basis.

The procedure was uncomfortable but not particularly painful compared to other surgeries I have had. Recovery was relatively quick and I was back at work after two days of rest.

I did experience some significant discomfort associated with urination but was counseled that I was not drinking enough water. Once I increased my consumption of water, most of the discomfort went away and I was back to normal after about two weeks.

In the wake of the surgery, the urgency to urinate has gone away. The interval between trips to the bathroom has lengthened significantly such that I usually get up to urinate only once each night and sometimes not at all.

Having talked with others who have had more drastic prostate surgery, I feel that the Urolift procedure was much less stressful and the results were as hoped for.