Erectile dysfunction is a common condition affecting men over age 50. With the recent increase in public awareness about available therapies, more and more men are seeking help. Primary care physicians usually can prescribe first-line treatments without acquiring additional equipment or staff. Patients who are not satisfied with oral medication, vacuum devices, injection therapy, or intraurethral suppositories may be referred to a urologist for further treatment. Development of new medical therapies is ongoing, and within the next few years, we expect to see the introduction of more medications for treatment of erectile dysfunction. Some agents act peripherally on the penile circulation and others centrally on the portion of the brain involved in producing erections.
