Men Find A Permanent Solution To A Common Problem (NAPSA)—There’s been lot of attention lately on drugs designed to help with a problem faced by a surprising number of men. These drugs, notably Viagra, have helped raise awareness of sexual health and have encouraged many men to start talking about such problems with their partners and doctors. According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Viagra fails in about 30 percent of patients—especially if the condition is a result of prostate cancer treatments, diabetes, spinal cord injuries or cardiovascular conditions. Two new drugs, Levitra and Cialis, were recently introduced but doctors anticipate men will fail at the same, if not at a faster rate, as men who havetried and failed using Viagra. The condition is erectile dysfunction (ED) or impotence, which affects more than 30 million men in the U.S. “One in 10 men in the United States has ED,” said J. Francois Eid, M.D., Clinical Asso- ciate Professor of Urology at the Weill-Cornell Medical College of Cornell University. “Men are often too embarrassed to talk about the condition and almost 20 million sufferers don’t seek treatment.” “Drug therapy won’t cure ED for every man. We’ve found that men are often reluctant to take that next step to explore what other options mayexist for them,” Dr. Eid said. Someotheroptions include: Vacuum devices. A plastic tube is fitted and a vacuum iscreated by pumping the air out, which causes the erection. Injection therapy. Medication is injected to open the blood vessels and increase blood flow. However, many of these therapies require planning before tak- Doctors could have good news for many men who thought they had an insurmountable problem. ing which reduces spontaneity. Many men—more than 20,000 a year—seek a more permanent solution: Penile implants. Implants. Penile implants have the highest patient satisfaction rates of all impotence treatments. In fact, a recent study reveals that patients are more than twice as satisfied with implants as drug therapies. “Implants are the best option for men who don’t respond to Viagra,” added Dr. Eid. “Implants look and feel natural and enable men to restore intimate relationships with their partners.” The simple procedure can be completed in less than an hour. Which treatmentis right for you? The best advice is to speak with a urologist who specializes in ED. Couples looking for more information may contact the Erectile Dysfunction Institute (EDi), a free and confidential information resource and physician network comprised of specialists nationwide. To learn moreorto find a urologist in your area, visit the EDi Web site, www.cure-ed.org, or call the toll-free Nurse Line at 866294-7504.
