Erectile dysfunction is a complex medical condition that might entail much worse symptoms than the inability to perform and enjoy sex. It’s essential for men of all ages past puberty to understand what this condition entails and what it could mean for overall health. In many cases, erectile dysfunction can be an indication of a more serious underlying medical issue that requires personalized treatment.
What Is Erectile Dysfunction?
According to Culley C. Carson III, MD, a distinguished professor emeritus of urology at the UNC School of Medicine, as many as 120 million men in the United States experience erectile dysfunction to some degree. However, this issue may not come up in conversations about medical issues due to the sensitive and personal nature of the condition. Many men have trouble being honest about the issue. It’s also not the same for every man; erectile dysfunction is the medical term for the inability to achieve and maintain an erection long enough to complete sexual intercourse. How this happens can vary among men, so the treatment courses may be different and require specific medication.
While some men may have intermittent difficulty achieving and maintaining erections due to acute medical issues or specific circumstances, erectile dysfunction describes a failure to achieve and maintain an erection firm enough for sexual penetration at least 50% of the time. About half of all men over the age of 40 experience erectile dysfunction, and the appearance rate increases for each decade of life past age 40. About 10% of men with erectile dysfunction have severe erectile dysfunction, or the complete inability to attain and maintain an erection firm enough for penetration, meaning these men are unable to engage in sexual intercourse.
52% of guys over the age of 40, and 26% under 40, experience erectile dysfunction
Recognizing Signs and Possible Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
Many men are reluctant to mention the issue to their doctors. Some men believe it is a problem that will eventually resolve itself, or they find other issues to which they attribute their symptoms. This is a potentially dangerous mindset as erectile dysfunction could be a symptom of a serious medical issue.
Some of the potential causes of erectile dysfunction include:
- Cardiovascular illnesses
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Traumatic injuries to the spinal cord and pelvic area
- Peyronie’s disease, the accumulation of scar tissue inside of the penis
- Multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson’s disease
- Overconsumption of tobacco products
- Diabetes
- Metabolic disorders
- Obesity
- Psychological causes, such as generalized anxiety disorder and depression
- Alcoholism and other forms of advanced substance abuse disorders
- Side effects from certain prescription medications and cancer treatment drugs
Many of these issues can have life-threatening implications if left untreated for too long. Erectile dysfunction can act as an early warning system, manifesting as one of the earliest noticeable symptoms of otherwise undetectable diseases.
What Happens If Erectile Dysfunction Goes Untreated?
The biggest risk of allowing erectile dysfunction to remain untreated is an underlying medical issue advancing. For example, if a man develops erectile dysfunction as a symptom of heart disease, other symptoms may begin to appear rapidly, eventually complicating treatment and putting the man’s life at risk.
A doctor can also identify lifestyle habits that need to change to see ED improvement. Some surprising issues can impact your sex life; sometimes, a patient’s erectile dysfunction is a symptom of smoking. Quitting smoking now may improve the patient’s erectile dysfunction symptoms and also prevent more serious medical issues.
Even if the nervous system is operating well, an erection might not be physically possible if the blood vessels are unhealthy due to smoking.
The inability to have sex can be distressful enough on its own. When erectile dysfunction manifests as a symptom of a different medical issue, affected men may face complications if they let their symptoms persist untreated for too long.
Sadly, most men with erectile dysfunction don’t receive treatment for the condition, according to a study by the European Association of Urology.
Men should speak to their doctors as soon as they recognize a pattern of erectile dysfunction to rule out potentially serious causes and future risks.
Treating Erectile Dysfunction
Another roadblock facing many men experiencing erectile dysfunction is the relatively limited range of available medications for treating the condition. Men who develop erectile dysfunction as a symptom of a larger medical issue may require more invasive or expansive measures, and some of these treatments may conflict with drug allergies, other preexisting medical issues, or cause adverse reactions.
Many conventional treatments for erectile dysfunction exist, such as medications including Viagra and Cialis. However, these medications may conflict with some men’s preexisting medication regimens or co-occurring medical issues. Some men have adverse reactions to the leading brands of erectile dysfunction drugs or sensitivities to the additives found in most conventional medications.
Viagra is the Most Counterfeited Drug in the World
Pfizer created a team, Pfizer Global Security, to help cut down the number of unregulated drugs on the market. However, the problem persists. GoodRX says:
“One study done by the Pfizer Global Security team found that nearly 80% of online sites that claimed to sell Viagra were actually selling a counterfeit. The team even found dangerous additives like blue printer ink, amphetamines (or speed), rat poison, road paint, and floor wax hidden in counterfeit Viagra—things you definitely don’t want to put in your body.”
A Safe Alternative to Viagra and Cialis
As a compounding pharmacy online, we provide our customers with individually crafted compounded medications that:
- Help them avoid bothersome additives.
- Account for multiple medical issues in one easily managed daily dose.
- Take their medications in the form that works best for them.
Why?
The treatment for Erectile Dysfunction isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. To minimize health risks and high costs associated with the products on the market, our compounding pharmacists formulate erectile dysfunction medication in a manner that is right for every man, through a variety of choices.
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Benefits of Compounded Prescription Medications for ED
Compounded medications offer convenience, peace of mind, and affordability…
But what we offer is more than just an affordable solution.
Many men struggle to afford their prescriptions and may not be able to take some erectile dysfunction medications in their standard forms. When you opt for compounded medications through the Compounding Pharmacy of America, you can take your erectile dysfunction medication in the safest and most effective form for your personal needs. You can also combine it with certain medications that treat other issues.
Many of our patients also enjoy the ability to customize their dosages to avoid the hassle of cutting pills, and some men with allergies to gluten or other common additives found in conventional medications can take their erectile dysfunction medication without suffering adverse allergic reactions.
Compounded Medications for Erectile Dysfunction
We can compound ED medications into Tablets or Troches.
A troche is a drug delivery system that uses a small lozenge that dissolves between your cheek and gums. The medication can then be direction absorbed into the mucus membrane of your mouth. This means the person taking the medication doesn’t have to process it through their digestive system.
To treat ED, there are generally two ways that medication is prescribed. Your doctor will determine which is the best way for you. The first way is to take it as needed, usually at least 30 minutes before sexual activity.
The second way to treat ED is to take a medication once a day every day. If you take it this way, you may attempt sexual activity at any time between your doses.
Medications for Compounded Formulas:
- Sildenafil
- Vardenafil
- Avanafil
- Tadalafil
Multiple strengths of all drugs are available depending on the individual’s needs and how the medication will be taken.
Ask Your Doctor About ED and Get Help Online
Do not risk your personal wellbeing out of embarrassment about speaking to your doctor about erectile dysfunction.
We’ll make it easy for you. Simply print this form and bring it to your doctor: Male Sexual Performance Order Form and tell them you are interested in Compounded Troches or Tablets for your personal ED needs.
Our pharmacy is accredited by the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board (PCAB), a service of the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC). This means The Compounding Pharmacy of America meets the nation’s most rigorous standards for delivering high-quality compounded medications to consumers.
Chief Operating Officer, The Compounding Pharmacy of America
Matthew Poteet, Pharm.D. graduated with Honors from Lee University with a Bachelors of Science in Biological Science. After his undergraduate training, he completed the Doctor of Pharmacy program at Mercer University Southern School of Pharmacy, graduating in 2004. Dr. Poteet has spent much of his pharmacy career on staff at two of the most prestigious academic teaching hospitals in the Southeast; Emory University in Atlanta and Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. At these institutions he received extensive experience and training in sterile products compounding.
He returned home to East Tennessee in 2010, where he has held the position of Pharmacy Director at two sterile products pharmacies in Knoxville. Matthew lives in Knoxville with his wife, Chris. Dr. Poteet is Tennessee’s first Board Certified Anti-Aging Pharmacist by the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine.
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