ED Treatment Options
Although ED is common, you don’t have to live with it. Our urological specialists understand your hesitation and frustration. We offer a range of personalized treatments to help you achieve the sexual function you want:
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Medications
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Vacuum Erection Devices (VEDs)
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Injections
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Shockwave therapy
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Surgery
Erectile Dysfunction Medications
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved three medicines for ED. These medications include sildenafil (Viagra®), vardenafil (Levitra®), and tadalafil (Cialis®). The drugs work by blocking a chemical that stops erections. Medication doesn’t always work the first time you try it. You typically will need to try one of these pills at least four times before deciding if it works for you.
Pros
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Cheaper than other options
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Helps increase blood flow to the penis
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Well tolerated by most patients
Cons
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Can decrease blood pressure
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Not recommended for men with a history of chest pain (angina) or other heart conditions
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Rarely, can lead to prolonged erections (priapism)
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Side effects such as indigestion, headache, nasal congestion, or facial flushing
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Takes about 1–4 hours to work, which can make sexual spontaneity challenging
Vacuum Erection Device (VED)
A VED, sometimes called a penis pump, is a device you place over your penis. The device has a battery-operated or manual pump. When you activate the pump, the VED draws blood into your penis so you get an erection. You place a ring around the base of your penis to keep the erection.
Pros
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Cheapest option
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No drug effects
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Work well
Cons
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Bruising or bursting of blood vessels
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Cumbersome
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Numbness in your penis
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Penile pain, including with ejaculation
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Penis may feel cold to your partner
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Poor patient satisfaction
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Unnatural erections, including a “hinging” or unstable erection
Erectile Dysfunction Injections
Injections such as Trimix can help your ED. You will use a tiny needle to inject medication directly into the side of your penis. Our doctors will show you how to give yourself the injection in the office before you try it elsewhere. You can usually get an erection in 5–10 minutes. The erection lasts around 20–60 minutes.
Pros
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Discreet
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Mimic normal erections
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No side effects affecting your whole body
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Up to 85% effective
Cons
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Bruising or bleeding
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Difficult to use for those with tremors, poor vision, or severe obesity
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Poor long-term satisfaction
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Risk of penile scarring
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Risk of prolonged erection (priapism)
Surgery & Shockwave Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction
Shockwave Therapy
During shockwave therapy, a urologist will use a small, wand-like device that gives off sound waves. The device stimulates the tissue in your penis. It increases blood flow in your penis, which is essential for erections.
Surgery For Erectile Dysfunction
Surgery is the only treatment that offers a long-term cure for ED. We offer penile implants to help you achieve an erection. Your surgeon will place a device in the tissue of your penis. The device helps you get and keep an erection that looks and feels natural.
Helping Your Partner with Erectile Dysfunction
Why Choose University of Utah Health?
Our team includes fellowship-trained urologists and experienced advanced practice providers. They specialize in conditions that affect men’s sexual health and fertility. We create a safe, empathetic, supportive environment to discuss your needs and concerns. Our experts provide many treatments to help increase your quality of life and sexual health.
Schedule an Appointment
Call 801-587-1454 or request an appointment online to connect with our team. You don’t need a referral to make an appointment. Our financial counselor will confirm your insurance coverage and review your overall costs with you.
Meet Our Patients
Gene Miluk
The first time he experienced ED in his mid-50s he thought it was just a fluke, which was a reasonable assumption to make. More than half of men experience episodic erectile dysfunction at some time in their life from things like stress, too much alcohol, or as a side effect of medication.
