His and Her Health

In many cases of impotence, it is a matter of changing blood pressure medication to fix the problem. If other treatments are needed, most physicians will seek treatment ranging from the least invasive to the most invasive. Psychotherapy and behavior modifications may also be considered as a treatment, or, if the case warrants, prescription drugs may be prescribed.

The Food and Drug Administration recently approved several drugs that can assist in most cases of erectile dysfunction. Viagra was approved in 1998, and in 2003, Levitra was allowed on the market, followed by a third medication for erectile dysfunction, Cialis. These drugs work by enhancing the effects of nitric oxide, a chemical that relaxes smooth muscles in the penis during sexual stimulation and allows increased blood flow.