Treatment options for erectile dysfunction can be divided into four broad categories, pharmacological, mechanical, surgical, and psychological.
Pharmacological treatment involves delivering medication which can help restore erections. There are several different types of medication and ways of administering them. In general, medical therapy is the most appealing form of treatment and can be highly successful.

Mechanical treatment involves the use of a vacuum erection device or "pump" along with a constriction ring. The penis is placed in a vacuum tube and the air is pumped out. This creates negative pressure and allows blood to flow into the penis. Once the penis becomes erect, a rubber ring is placed around the base of the penis to prevent the blood from leaving. The vacuum tube is then removed. This non-invasive mode of therapy is effective in treating erectile problems form most causes although the device can be cumbersome to use.

Surgical therapy is the most invasive form of treatment for erectile dysfunction. The penile implant is a very good option for those men who have failed medical therapy or have a severe arterial or venous causes of impotence. Penile microsurgical revascularization procedures are reserved for those men who have a discrete identifiable penile arterial blockage. This surgery is technically challenging and must be performed by an experienced microvascular surgeon. The overall results are good in carefully selected patients. Penile vein ligation surgery has met with some contrbysy over its effectiveness but may yield fair results in patients with a venous leak.

Mechanical treatment involves the use of a vacuum erection device or "pump" along with a constriction ring. The penis is placed in a vacuum tube and the air is pumped out. This creates negative pressure and allows blood to flow into the penis. Once the penis becomes erect, a rubber ring is placed around the base of the penis to prevent the blood from leaving. The vacuum tube is then removed. This non-invasive mode of therapy is effective in treating erectile problems form most causes although the device can be cumbersome to use.

Surgical therapy is the most invasive form of treatment for erectile dysfunction. The penile implant is a very good option for those men who have failed medical therapy or have a severe arterial or venous causes of impotence. Penile microsurgical revascularization procedures are reserved for those men who have a discrete identifiable penile arterial blockage. This surgery is technically challenging and must be performed by an experienced microvascular surgeon. The overall results are good in carefully selected patients. Penile vein ligation surgery has met with some contrbygonesy over its effectiveness but may yield fair results in patients with a venous leak.

Psychological therapy is very useful in those cases of erectile dysfunction which are a direct result of psychological causes. These patients may also benefit from pharmacologic or combination therapy. The treatment of erectile dysfunction is rapidly changing as our understanding of erectile physiology expands. Men are becoming increasingly aware of the many different solutions available for this problem and are actively seeking help. Wives and partners are becoming more involved in the treatment process. If you or a loved one suffers from erectile dysfunction, help is just a phone call away.