Addressing the Psychological Aspects of ED

You might also find that DHEA raises your cholesterol levels, so if you have high cholesterol levels already, DHEA might not be the right choice. CBD is also a popular ingredient for erectile performance, especially if anxiety and psychogenic ED are at issue, and some of our favorite CBD companies have introduced sex-focused products that include some of these ingredients.

More men than ever before use erectile dysfunction medication to give their sex life a boost. But do you use it the right way?

Research is still less thorough for supplement ingredients, which makes it harder to assess reliability and safety for everyone. They also typically come in only one dose, so the efficacy can be wildly different in men with disparate BMIs and metabolisms. And from a cost standpoint, supplements are often much more expensive than prescriptions, especially considering generic options. Still, if your ED isn’t too severe, you’re determined to avoid getting a prescription for it, or you aren’t a viable candidate for prescription medication, these alternatives may be sufficient. Some companies tailor their supplements to target ED and increase sex drive and performance.

Vitamins and supplements for ED

Others may aim to boost testosterone or specifically increase the volume of ejaculate, often concurrently improving fertility. There’s a bit of ingredient crossover from one category to the next, so you can pick your preferred supplement based on your most pressing concerns, and you very well may see benefits elsewhere in your sexual health, as well. Here’s a quick look at the three main categories of complex nutritional supplements that might help with ED: Male enhancement pills have the closest link to ED of the bunch, with ingredients that typically try to improve blood flow and relax the musculature of the corpus cavernosa (the chambers of the penis that fill with blood to create an erection). These can include L-arginine or maca root.19 38 Some other ingredients are there to improve libido or reduce anxiety, the latter of which might help with psychogenic ED. A few ingredients in these supplements may also work to increase testosterone levels or ejaculate volume. Among these gummies, Neurogan’s Pure Intimacy is an easy top pick, as it combines an effective dose of CBD with both maca root and horny goat weed. Side effects with all of the supplements mentioned here tend to be mild, if any occur. Most men don’t experience any, but it’s always wise to share your supplement plans with your healthcare provider before adding anything new to your regimen. Notably, men who take medications for cardiovascular problems may not be suitable candidates for ED supplements. Most of the supplements you can use to combat ED are more expensive than generic drugs. You also have to take them every day for them to be effective, unlike certain ED meds that you can take as needed. Ultimately, the choice between a prescription ED treatment and a supplement comes down to budget and lifestyle, and the choice is yours to make.

Medication Type	Interaction Effect	Risk Level
Nitrates	Severe hypotension	High
Alpha-blockers	Additive blood pressure lowering effect	Moderate
CYP3A4 Inhibitors	Increased blood levels of ED drugs	Moderate to high

Innerbody uses only fildena super active 100 high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

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Physical Activity to Improve Erectile Function: A Systematic Review of Intervention Studies. One Patient Out of Four with Newly Diagnosed Erectile Dysfunction Is a Young Man—Worrisome Picture from the Everyday Clinical Practice.

What Are the Best Medications for Erectile Dysfunction?

Some research has also highlighted the potential for pumps to help with Peyronie’s disease, a painful curvature of the penis that involves calcium deposits around the shaft.37 As with other device-based therapies, you might want to use penis pumps as one part of a multipronged treatment approach. They pair well with rings to ensure that the blood you’ve drawn into your penis doesn’t escape. The biggest fault of penis pumps is that they can be a pain to use, both literally and figuratively (he vacuum pressure can be uncomfortable). Some brands, like Bathmate, are designed to be used with water in the chamber, which softens the experience. But these necessitate a shower or a bath that can get in the way of foreplay and slow down a passionate moment.

Language matters

Prescription ED medications are safe and effective ways for most men to treat ED. However, not all men want to take prescription medication, and some men cannot take PDE5 medicine safely. Based on our research, we believe you may find an effective treatment for very mild cases of ED using a nutritional supplement. As with any medication or supplement, it’s important to discuss this with your primary care provider to make sure there’s nothing in your medical history that might make these alternative treatments unsafe for you. Nutritional supplements don’t work as strongly as prescription ED medications, based on clinical research. Direct comparison of tadalafil with sildenafil for the treatment of erectile dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Can Supplements Help Erectile Dysfunction?

Testosterone boosters flibanserin may help with ED if low testosterone is at the source. Some prominent testosterone boosters, like tongkat ali and ashwagandha, also have anti-anxiety effects, which might help with cases of psychogenic ED, regardless of testosterone levels.39 40 And because erectile performance often suffers with low testosterone, some brands will include erection-supporting ingredients in their testosterone boosters, even when there’s less evidence connecting them with testosterone. A great example of this is the potent maca extract in Innerbody Testosterone Support and Roman’s supplement. Volume pills often better resemble fertility supplements than ED solutions. In fact, our top-rated volume pill is a male fertility supplement by Bird & Be.

Watch out for side effects

Again, some ingredient crossover means you can find volume pills that have beneficial potential for ED. It would be understandable if you wanted to try a single supplemental ingredient as opposed to a complex formula. With the exception of a few great products out there, many such complex supplements include a few iffy ingredients or subclinical doses that call their potential safety and efficacy into question. And even with a good complex supplement, you won’t know which of its ingredients are working for you, in particular, and which may not be. Here’s a quick look at some popular single-ingredient supplements people look to for help with ED. International Urology and Nephrology, 49(10), 1731-1740.

• Tadalafil is often preferred for daily use due to longer duration.
• Sildenafil and vardenafil require more precise timing around meals.
• Side effects are usually mild but may include flushing and upset stomach.
• Do not share tablets with others to avoid misuse and health risks.
• Erectile dysfunction can be an early sign of heart disease.
• Consult a healthcare professional if tablets have no effect.
• Avoid grapefruit juice when taking certain ED medications.
• Some medications may lose effectiveness over time; check with a doctor.

Coward, R. M., & Carson, C. C. (2008). Tadalafil in the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

• Tadalafil's longer duration allows more spontaneous activity.
• Counseling may be recommended if psychological problems contribute.
• Men should avoid sudden activities after taking tablets if dizzy.
• Side effects are generally manageable but require medical attention if severe.
• Proper storage extends shelf life and maintains drug efficacy.
• Your doctor will determine the best medication based on health history.
• The effectiveness of these tablets varies from person to person.
• Always disclose all medications and supplements to your doctor.

Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management, 4(6), 1315-1330. Kloner, R.A., Goggin, P., Goldstein, I., Hackett, G., Kirby, M.G., Osterloh, I., Parker, J.D., Sadovsky, R.

Should I Get Surgery for Erectile Dysfunction?

DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is a precursor to the sex hormones testosterone and estrogen that our body’s adrenal glands typically produce. Production of DHEA naturally drops as we age. Several studies on diabetics have uncovered an inverse relationship between serum DHEA levels and the incidence of ED.22 Those results suggest that possibly a third of men with diabetes-related ED could treat their ED using DHEA. The World Anti-Doping Agency and many collegiate and international competitive organizations have banned DHEA as a performance-enhancing drug. The quantities you’ll encounter in male enhancement supplements aren’t likely to help you break any home run records, but they could still show up on mandatory drug tests. (2018, May 18).

What Treatments Might Not Work for Erectile Dysfunction?

Not all of the items on this list are home runs, but their prevalence in the marketplace demands that we address them: Studies using high doses of maca root powder have illustrated its ability to improve erectile performance.43 But maca isn't always well-absorbed, so extracts made from the powder are superior to consuming 10g of the dried and ground root. L-Arginine is an amino acid we naturally have within our bodies. Under normal circumstances, it plays a role in nitric oxide production, which in turn plays a crucial role in allowing blood to rush into the penis to cause an erection. In one study, a third of men reported that they experienced significant improvement in sexual function while using L-arginine.19 A separate study of men ages 25-45 examined the effect of taking both L-arginine and pycnogenol (chemicals taken from French pine trees) together for ED treatment.20 Participants were given L-arginine for one month; nothing happened. Then the men were given both L-arginine and pycnogenol for a month.

Key takeaways

After this second month, 80% of the men reported that their sexual function was mostly restored. Using this same combination for a third month, over 92% of the men had what they considered normal erections. While erection-specific research has only been conducted in animals, horny goat weed is among the most popular herbal remedies for ED. As with maca, we recommend extracts over powders and advise men to focus on the icariin content of the extract over raw dose numbers.45 Panax ginseng (red ginseng) is sometimes called “herbal Viagra.” There have been more than a handful of studies providing evidence that Panax ginseng can help with ED. However, the studies leave a fair bit to be desired in their methodologies and size.21 The evidence thus far points to the need for more research into the potential of red ginseng as an effective treatment. A New Perspective on the Nitrate–Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitor Interaction. Impotence and its medical and psychosocial correlates: results of the Massachusetts Male Aging Study. The Journal of Urology, 151(1), 54–61. Efficacy and safety of PDE5 inhibitors in the treatment of diabetes mellitus erectile dysfunction: Protocol for a systematic review. Erectile dysfunction and mental health in a general population of older men.

• Common ingredients include sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil, and avanafil.
• These tablets are used to treat erectile dysfunction in men.
• They typically work by increasing blood flow to the penis.
• Most tablets should be taken 30 to 60 minutes before intimacy.
• Effect duration varies from 4 to 36 hours depending on the medication.
• Side effects may include headaches, nasal congestion, and dizziness.
• Prescription is usually required; consult a doctor before use.
• Do not mix with nitrates or certain medications to avoid serious interactions.

The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 6(2), 505–512. Clinical safety of oral sildenafil citrate (VIAGRATM) in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. International Journal of Impotence Research, 10, 69–730. Tadalafil in the treatment of erectile dysfunction; an overview of the clinical evidence. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 1(4), 439-449.

• Natural alternatives include herbal supplements like ginseng and L-arginine.
• Psychological factors like stress can affect tablet effectiveness.
• Proper diet and exercise can improve erectile response over time.
• Avoid excessive alcohol consumption when taking these tablets.
• These medications do not increase sexual desire, only performance.
• Some tablets are available over-the-counter in certain regions.
• Always follow dosage instructions to minimize risks.
• Use caution if you have cardiovascular conditions.