Viagra Alternatives: Non-Medical Erectile Dysfunction Treatments

Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is a common problem for MANY men, especially those over the age of 40. Thankfully, there are many effective, well-known medicines to treat ED such as Viagra and Cialis. These erectile dysfunction treatments have helped millions of men around the world have a normal sex life again. The issue for some men taking ED pills is that they treat the symptoms, not the cause of ED.

Other than taking these pills, there are some other ways you can treat and potentially cure your ED. The key to ED treatment success is understanding the underlying causes of ED, and treating the root cause, as well as tackling the symptoms.

Understanding the causes of ED

Erectile dysfunction causes can be roughly divided into physiological and psychological:

Physiological – this is where the blood vessels that feed blood to the penis become narrower, meaning less blood can get to the penis making it harder to achieve an erection. It can also be caused by damage to the nerves in the area, hormonal abnormalities or physical abnormalities in the structure of the penis. This type of erectile dysfunction is more likely to affect older men.

Psychological – this is where there is no physiological reason for the difficulty in achieving an erection, instead, it is caused by anxiety or stress. This can be due to relationship issues, sexual inexperience, past sexual issues, being in a new relationship, or simply external life pressures. This type of ED is more likely to affect younger men.

Erectile dysfunction can also be temporary, caused by tiredness, excessive alcohol intake, or drugs such as cannabis, ecstasy, or cocaine.

Addressing the underlying issue(s) that is causing a problem in achieving a healthy erection will help in the long term and reduce your reliance on ED treatments like Sildenafil, Tadalafil or Vardenafil.

This article will run through a range of non-medicinal treatments for ED that can be used in conjunction with traditional ED medicines to help improve your erections for good.

Lifestyle changes

The biggest change you can make to improve erectile dysfunction is to lead a healthier lifestyle. Although it's easier said than done, a few simple lifestyle improvements can dramatically improve erections and reduce your reliance on medicines.

Weight loss

Losing weight may be the most effective thing you can do to improve sexual function if you are suffering from ED. There are many scientific studies that show that weight loss can help sexual function improve or even return to normal.

If you have a BMI over 30 (you can find a BMI calculator here), you could significantly improve your ED symptoms by losing weight. Weight loss can be started gradually with short, brisk walks and cutting out odd sugary snacks or drinks rather than a full lifestyle upheaval. Try the NHS 12-week weight loss plan for a guided plan to ease you into a healthier lifestyle.

Quit smoking

Smoking is known to damage blood vessels, some of which are responsible for blood flowing to the penis. Nicotine can also cause blood flow to the penis to be reduced, meaning quitting smoking will help your symptoms, but you need to give up nicotine totally for the best effects.

Men who smoke have been proven to be more likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction. Stopping smoking can provide short- and long-term improvements in erectile dysfunction.

In the short term, reduced nicotine and better blow flow will help to make erections stronger and last longer. In the long-term, reduced risk of heart problems will also help to stop secondary erectile dysfunction from cardiovascular problems such as high blood pressure or heart failure.

Exercising & ED

Regular exercise can improve your cardiovascular health. This means that your heart can more efficiently pump blood to your extremities and has been shown to improve the symptoms of erectile dysfunction. Pelvic floor exercises can help improve the symptoms of ED and strengthen male sexual health overall. Speak to your doctor to see what exercises they recommend.

On the other hand, cycling may actually be bad for ED, so you may want to cut down on cycling if you’re experiencing any impotence.

Reduce stress

Stress can cause ED and impotence in men of all ages. Reducing stress through mindfulness or meditation can help you ‘re-set’ and cope better. It may also be an idea to talk to someone about some of the issues you’re having — especially your partner.

Counselling

Counselling can help you address any underlying issues such as trauma or relationship issues that are making the problem worse.

It can also help deal with anxiety or depression which can both trigger ED. Mental health issues and treatments can cause ED (especially true if you’re taking antipsychotic medication).

Different types of therapy

There are many different types of therapy available for men suffering from ED:

• Sensate focus is couples sex therapy that focuses on sex avoidance, as well as building intimacy
• Psychosexual counselling is couples sex therapy where you can discuss any sexual issues you’ve been having. The emphasis is on honesty and sharing
• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can help you work through any of your issues like self-esteem or negative thinking.

Vacuum pumps

Vacuum pumps are a non-medical ED treatment that helps to strengthen your erection by making your penis hard by improving the blood flow to your penis.

Don’t overreact to ED — get clued up and sort out some treatment instead. Treat both the ED symptoms, as well as the root cause to ensure robust sexual health.

For more information about medical ED treatments, read this.