INTRODUCTION
Only certain types of Erectile Dysfunction (ED) have the potential to be cured with specific treatments
• Psychogenic ED ( psychosexual therapy may be given either alone or with another therapeutic approach)
• Hormonal ED ( testosterone replacement therapy is effective, when an androgen deficiency is present, but should only be used after other endocrinological causes of ED have been excluded: hyperprolactinaemia, hypo or hyperthyroidism, etc.)
Most men with ED will be treated with treatment options that are not cause-specific. This approach requires a structured treatment strategy that dependes on efficacy, safety, invasiveness and coast as well as patient and partner satisfaction. The choice of treatment options must consider the effects on patient and partner satisfaction and other quality of life factors, as well as efficacy and safety.
FIRST LINE THERAPY
The first-line therapy for ED is oral pharmacotherapy. Among the drugs we can orally use on first approach we have some natural substances
(as Yohimbine, used as an aphrodisiac for almost a century), or actual drugs (Viagra®, Cialis®, Levitra®),which if appropriately used, are effective within 30-60 minutes from administration and can improve erections in over 70-80% of men with ED. Each of these drugs has its indications and its side-effects. Therefore ED-oral drugs must be carefully prescribed and monitored by a specialist.
SECOND LINE THERAPY
Patients not responding to ED-oral drugs may be offered the so called intracavernous therapy with high success rates of 85%. Intracavernous administration of vasoactive drugs was the first medical treatment for ED more than 20 years ago. Alprostadil (Caverject®, Viridal®) is the first and only drug approved for intracavernous ED treatment. It is necessary to perform a microinjection into the penis with this drug and then the erection appears after 5-15 minutes and lasts according to the dose injected. These drugs as well as those given orally, have the goal to treat and improve the circulation as well as the function of the penis. These penile microinjections can be used alone or together with Vacuum constriction Devices (devices which provide passive engorgement of the penis in conjunction with a constrictor ring placed at the base of the penis to retain blood within the penis). An office-training programme (one or two visits) is required for the patients to learn the correct injection process. After at home the patient can use intracavernous therapy not only to achieve a temporary erection to have sex, but also to continue the rehabilitation of the penile circulation (cavernosal gym).
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