Vacuum Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction

Sometimes oral medications for ED are not effective for a patient, or may be incompatible with their medical history. Second-line therapy includes vacuum constriction devices, penile self-injection, and transurethral therapy. Vacuum constriction devices (VCDs) have actually been around for quite some time, and the ErecAid is the most popular option. A cylinder is placed over the penis, and then a pumping action pulls blood into the penis, causing an erection. The man may then slide a band or ring on to the base of their penis in order to retain the erection, and the ring may be left in place for up to 30 minutes. Vacuum therapy is generally safe, but can be associated with bruising, pain, and a decrease in the force of ejaculation. The vacuum does not interfere with medication, and can be combined with other therapies.  

"Our data support the potential benefits of a combination therapy with one of the oral medications such as Viagra, Levitra or Cialis plus testosterone for men with erectile dysfunction and low testosterone who find the oral medications by themselves ineffective," said Dr. Shabsigh. "When assessing erectile dysfunction, doctors and patients should consider using a simple blood test to determine if low testosterone is a contributing factor.