(ED) is a common condition affecting men throughout the globe, irrespective of age or status in life. Problems with getting or maintaining an erection are most likely to affect men over the age of 40, however. Some of the modern ED treatments, prescribed by GPs or sold over the counter, include sildenafil (which is marketed as Viagra), tadalafil (known as Cialis), and avanafil (marketed as Spedra). There have been a variety of treatments for ED going back in history, however.

Some ancient treatments for ED

Back in 800BC it was understood that ED was a result of having sex with undesirable women and some of the herbal treatments offered by doctors of the times included animal parts, from alligators, sparrows, mice or frogs. Moving on a couple of thousand years, a common treatment for ED was an extract from testicles of sheep and Goat gland implants were also available treatments in the 19th century. The drug sildenafil was launched by Pfizer in the 1990s as a treatment for heart disease and high blood pressure, one side effect of the drug, though, was that men were finding that erections were much firmer and lasted longer.

In the 20th century penile implants were considered suitable treatments in the 1970s, alongside the growing popularity of penis vacuum pumps and devices. In the 1980s it was discovered that injecting a vasodilator into the veins caused an erection and a good deal of research into vasodilators and alpha blockers followed on from this discovery. The drug sildenafil was launched by Pfizer in the 1990s as a treatment for heart disease and high blood pressure, one side effect of the drug, though, was that men were finding that erections were much firmer and lasted longer. After further research the drug sildenafil was marketed as the ED treatment Viagra in 1998. The drug became popular immediately and is still the most commonly taken oral medication for ED.

Vacuum pumps have also been popular since their launch and most men find they do work, however they are not always available on prescription. Some of the other treatments for ED that are available include penis injections of the drug Alprostadil, which are beneficial for 80% of men who find oral tablets don't work, and skin cream Vitaros, which also contains Alprostadil and should be applied directly to the skin at the opening of the penis and in the surrounding area. The drug sildenafil was launched by Pfizer in the 1990s as a treatment for heart disease and high blood pressure, one side effect of the drug, though, was that men were finding that erections were much firmer and lasted longer. Treatments for ED have certainly come a long way since the year 800BC The launch of Viagra is credited with causing a sexual revolution for men and ED really is treatable in the contemporary world.