Blood Pressure Drugs and ED: What You Need to Know

High blood pressure can increase a man's risk for erectile dysfunction, yet some BP drugs also can contribute to the problem.

blood pressure drugs and ED

One reason erectile dysfunction (ED) becomes more common with age is that older men are more likely to be on medication, and ED is often a side effect of many common drugs. In fact, it's been estimated that 25% of all ED is caused by medication.

Several drugs can produce erectile difficulties, but blood pressure drugs are near the top. ED is an occasional side effect of BP drugs like thiazide diuretics, loop diuretics, and beta-blockers, all of which can decrease blood flow to the penis and make it difficult to get an erection. However, other BP drugs, such as alpha-blockers, ACE inhibitors, and angioten-sin-receptor blockers, rarely cause ED.

Some research even suggests the effect of blood pressure drugs may be more psychological than physical. When ED occurs after a man begins to take a new medication, it's possible that anxiety about his health, rather than the medication, may trigger the problem. And being aware of possible side effects may make a man more likely to recognize them as abnormal.

According to Harvard Special Health Report Erectile Dysfunction, one study in the European Heart Journal looked at men newly diagnosed with heart disease, but without ED, who started treatment with the beta-blocker atenolol (Tenormin). Some of the study participants were told about the sexual side effect of the blood pressure drug, and ED was reported by almost one-third of the participants. In contrast, among those who were not told the drug's name or its side effects, only 3% said they experienced ED.

If you get ED shortly after starting treatment with any BP drug, speak with your doctor. He or she may be able to substitute for a different one. Keep in mind that it can take anywhere from several days to several weeks after stopping a high blood pressure medication for erections to return.

Even if you do not take blood pressure drugs, you should get your blood pressure checked as high BP also can be a sign of ED. In fact, men with ED are about 38% more likely to have high blood pressure than those without ED, according to a study that examined the medical records of more than 1.9 million men. That is not too surprising, since ED often occurs in men who smoke or are overweight—both of which are common risk factors for high blood pressure.

— By Matthew Solan
Executive Editor, Harvard Men's Health Watch

Drugs that may cause erection problems   

Many medicines and recreational drugs can affect a man's sexual arousal and sexual performance. What causes erection problems in one man may not affect another man.

Talk to your health care provider if you think that a drug is having a negative effect on your sexual performance. Never stop taking any medicine without first talking to your provider. Some medicines may lead to life-threatening reactions if you do not take care when stopping or changing them.

The following is a list of some medicines and drugs that may cause erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. There may be additional drugs other than those on this list that can cause erection difficulties.

Antidepressants and other psychiatric medicines:

  • Amitriptyline (Elavil)

  • Amoxapine (Asendin)

  • Buspirone (Buspar)

  • Chlordiazepoxide (Librium)

  • Chlorpromazine (Thorazine)

  • Clomipramine (Anafranil)

  • Clorazepate (Tranxene)

  • Desipramine (Norpramin)

  • Diazepam (Valium)

  • Doxepin (Sinequan)

  • Fluoxetine (Prozac)

  • Fluphenazine (Prolixin)

  • Imipramine (Tofranil)

  • Isocarboxazid (Marplan)

  • Lorazepam (Ativan)

  • Meprobamate (Equanil)

  • Mesoridazine (Serentil)

  • Nortriptyline (Pamelor)

  • Oxazepam (Serax)

  • Phenelzine (Nardil)

  • Phenytoin (Dilantin)

  • Sertraline (Zoloft)

  • Thioridazine (Mellaril)

  • Thiothixene (Navane)

  • Tranylcypromine (Parnate)

  • Trifluoperazine (Stelazine)

Antihistamine medicines (certain classes of antihistamines are also used to treat heartburn):

  • Cimetidine (Tagamet)

  • Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine)

  • Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)

  • Hydroxyzine (Vistaril)

  • Meclizine (Antivert)

  • Nizatidine (Axid)

  • Promethazine (Phenergan)

  • Ranitidine (Zantac)

High blood pressure medicines and diuretics (water pills):

  • Atenolol (Tenormin)

  • Bethanidine

  • Bumetanide (Bumex)

  • Captopril (Capoten)

  • Chlorothiazide (Diuril)

  • Chlorthalidone (Hygroton)

  • Clonidine (Catapres)

  • Enalapril (Vasotec)

  • Furosemide (Lasix)

  • Guanabenz (Wytensin)

  • Guanethidine (Ismelin)

  • Guanfacine (Tenex)

  • Haloperidol (Haldol)

  • Hydralazine (Apresoline)

  • Hydrochlorothiazide (Esidrix)

  • Labetalol (Normodyne)

  • Methyldopa (Aldomet)

  • Metoprolol (Lopressor)

  • Nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia)

  • Phenoxybenzamine (Dibenzyline)

  • Phentolamine (Regitine)

  • Prazosin (Minipress)

  • Propranolol (Inderal)

  • Reserpine (Serpasil)

  • Spironolactone (Aldactone)

  • Triamterene (Maxzide)

  • Verapamil (Calan)

Thiazides are the most common cause of erectile dysfunction among the high blood pressure medicines. The next most common cause is beta blockers. Alpha blockers tend to be less likely to cause this problem.

Parkinson disease medicines:

  • Benztropine (Cogentin)

  • Biperiden (Akineton)

  • Bromocriptine (Parlodel)

  • Levodopa (Sinemet)

  • Procyclidine (Kemadrin)

  • Trihexyphenidyl (Artane)

Chemotherapy and hormonal medicines:

  • Antiandrogens (Casodex, Flutamide, Nilutamide)

  • Busulfan (Myleran)

  • Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan)

  • Ketoconazole

  • LHRH agonists (Lupron, Zoladex)

  • LHRH agonists (Firmagon)

Other medicines:

  • Aminocaproic acid (Amicar)

  • Atropine

  • Clofibrate (Atromid-S)

  • Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril)

  • Cyproterone

  • Digoxin (Lanoxin)

  • Disopyramide (Norpace)

  • Dutasteride (Avodart)

  • Estrogen

  • Finasteride (Propecia, Proscar)

  • Furazolidone (Furoxone)

  • H2 blockers (Tagamet, Zantac, Pepcid)

  • Indomethacin (Indocin)

  • Lipid-lowering agents

  • Licorice

  • Metoclopramide (Reglan)

  • NSAIDs (ibuprofen, etc.)

  • Orphenadrine (Norflex)

  • Prochlorperazine (Compazine)

  • Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)

  • Sumatriptan (Imitrex)

Opiate analgesics (painkillers):

  • Codeine

  • Fentanyl (Innovar)

  • Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)

  • Meperidine (Demerol)

  • Methadone

  • Morphine

  • Oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percodan)

Recreational drugs:

  • Alcohol

  • Amphetamines

  • Barbiturates

  • Cocaine

  • Marijuana

  • Heroin

  • Nicotine

Alternative Names

Impotence caused by medications; Drug-induced erectile dysfunction; Prescription medicines and impotence

Source: MedlinePlus

High blood pressure and sex: Overcome the challenges

Treatment for high blood pressure and satisfaction with sex can go hand in hand — if you're open about the problem and work closely with your doctor.

By Mayo Clinic Staff

High blood pressure often has no signs or symptoms. But the impact on your sex life may be obvious. Although sexual activity is unlikely to pose an immediate threat to your health — such as a heart attack — high blood pressure can affect your overall satisfaction with sex.

A link between high blood pressure and sexual problems is proved in men. For women who have decreased sexual satisfaction, it's not yet proved that high blood pressure is to blame.

Challenges for men

Over time, high blood pressure damages the lining of blood vessels and causes arteries to harden and narrow (atherosclerosis), limiting blood flow. This means less blood is able to flow to the penis.

For some men, the decreased blood flow makes it difficult to achieve and maintain erections — often referred to as erectile dysfunction. The problem is fairly common.

High blood pressure can also interfere with ejaculation and reduce sexual desire. Sometimes the medications used to treat high blood pressure have similar effects.

Even a single episode of erectile dysfunction can cause anxiety. Fears that it will happen again might lead men to avoid sex — and affect the relationship with their sexual partner.

Men should discuss any concerns with their doctor.

Challenges for women

High blood pressure's effect on sexual problems in women isn't well-understood. But it's possible that high blood pressure could affect a woman's sex life.

High blood pressure can reduce blood flow to the vagina. For some women, this leads to a decrease in sexual desire or arousal, vaginal dryness, or difficulty achieving orgasm. Improving arousal and lubrication can help.

Like men, women can experience anxiety and relationship issues due to sexual dysfunction. Women should talk to their doctor if they experience these difficulties.

High blood pressure medication side effects in men: Sexual problems

High blood pressure medications that can cause sexual dysfunction as a side effect include:

To reduce the risk of side effects from these medications, including sexual problems, take medications exactly as prescribed. If you still have side effects, talk to your doctor about other possible medications that may have fewer side effects.

Medications less likely to cause sexual side effects

If sexual side effects persist, ask your doctor about other medication options. Some high blood pressure medications are less likely to cause sexual side effects, such as:

To help your doctor select the most appropriate medication for you, tell him or her all the other medications you're taking now — including herbal supplements and over-the-counter drugs. Sometimes a particular combination of medications or supplements contributes to sexual problems.

If your doctor says it's OK, you may be able to stop taking blood pressure medications temporarily to see if your sex life improves. To make sure your blood pressure remains within a safe range, you may need frequent blood pressure readings while you're not taking the blood pressure lowering medication that may be causing your sexual difficulties. This can be done with a home blood pressure monitoring device for convenience.

Erectile dysfunction drugs and high blood pressure

Men considering medications for erectile dysfunction should check with their doctor first. It's usually safe to combine the erectile dysfunction drugs sildenafil (Revatio, Viagra), vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn) and tadalafil (Adcirca, Cialis) with high blood pressure medications.

Taking these drugs with nitrates, taken either regularly for chest pain or in an emergency setting, can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure.

Be honest with your doctor

If you have high blood pressure, you usually don't have to live with a loss of sexual satisfaction. Start by talking with your doctor. The more your doctor knows about you, the better he or she can treat your high blood pressure — and help you maintain a satisfying sex life. Be prepared to answer questions your doctor may ask, such as:

Promote overall health

By making healthy lifestyle choices, you can lower your blood pressure and potentially improve your sex life. Healthy lifestyle choices include:

Of course, a leaner body can boost your confidence and help you feel more attractive, which could also improve your sex life.

Set the stage for satisfying sex

Your sexual response may vary with feelings about your partner and the setting in which sex occurs. To encourage satisfying sex, initiate sex when you and your partner are feeling relaxed. Explore various ways to be physically intimate, such as massage or warm soaks in the tub.

Share with each other the types of sexual activity you enjoy most. You may find that open communication is the best way to achieve sexual satisfaction.

High blood pressure (hypertension)

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Overview

High blood pressure is a common condition in which the long-term force of the blood against your artery walls is high enough that it may eventually cause health problems, such as heart disease.

Blood pressure is determined both by the amount of blood your heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries. The more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries, the higher your blood pressure.

You can have high blood pressure (hypertension) for years without any symptoms. Even without symptoms, damage to blood vessels and your heart continues and can be detected. Uncontrolled high blood pressure increases your risk of serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke.

High blood pressure generally develops over many years, and it affects nearly everyone eventually. Fortunately, high blood pressure can be easily detected. And once you know you have high blood pressure, you can work with your doctor to control it.

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Symptoms

Most people with high blood pressure have no signs or symptoms, even if blood pressure readings reach dangerously high levels.

A few people with high blood pressure may have headaches, shortness of breath or nosebleeds, but these signs and symptoms aren't specific and usually don't occur until high blood pressure has reached a severe or life-threatening stage.

When to see a doctor

You'll likely have your blood pressure taken as part of a routine doctor's appointment.

Ask your doctor for a blood pressure reading at least every two years starting at age 18. If you're age 40 or older, or you're 18 to 39 with a high risk of high blood pressure, ask your doctor for a blood pressure reading every year.

Blood pressure generally should be checked in both arms to determine if there's a difference. It's important to use an appropriate-sized arm cuff.

Your doctor will likely recommend more frequent readings if you've already been diagnosed with high blood pressure or have other risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Children age 3 and older will usually have blood pressure measured as a part of their yearly checkups.

If you don't regularly see your doctor, you may be able to get a free blood pressure screening at a health resource fair or other locations in your community. You can also find machines in some stores that will measure your blood pressure for free.

Public blood pressure machines, such as those found in pharmacies, may provide helpful information about your blood pressure, but they may have some limitations. The accuracy of these machines depends on several factors, such as a correct cuff size and proper use of the machines. Ask your doctor for advice on using public blood pressure machines.

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Causes

There are two types of high blood pressure.

Primary (essential) hypertension

For most adults, there's no identifiable cause of high blood pressure. This type of high blood pressure, called primary (essential) hypertension, tends to develop gradually over many years.

Secondary hypertension

Some people have high blood pressure caused by an underlying condition. This type of high blood pressure, called secondary hypertension, tends to appear suddenly and cause higher blood pressure than does primary hypertension. Various conditions and medications can lead to secondary hypertension, including:

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Risk factors

High blood pressure has many risk factors, including:

Sometimes pregnancy contributes to high blood pressure, as well.

Although high blood pressure is most common in adults, children may be at risk, too. For some children, high blood pressure is caused by problems with the kidneys or heart. But for a growing number of kids, poor lifestyle habits, such as an unhealthy diet, obesity and lack of exercise, contribute to high blood pressure.

Complications

The excessive pressure on your artery walls caused by high blood pressure can damage your blood vessels, as well as organs in your body. The higher your blood pressure and the longer it goes uncontrolled, the greater the damage.

Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to complications including:

Mayo Clinic

Can Blood Pressure Drugs Cause Erectile Dysfunction?

Dr. Sophie Vergnaud, MBBS

Dr. Sophie is the clinical expert on the GoodRx Research team. She specializes in pulmonology and all things internal medicine.

Posted on

Many men with erectile dysfunction (ED) take medications for other conditions, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, or diabetes. But, is it possible that blood pressure drugs could be causing ED? Or could they be making ED symptoms worse?

The short answer

Difficulty getting or maintaining an erection can happen for many reasons, including taking a medication that causes ED as a side effect. Research shows that it’s common for men with ED to be on blood pressure medications. But whether we can say that blood pressure drugs are the cause of ED merits a bit more discussion.

For sure, all blood pressure (BP) medications can potentially cause ED, but the risk is higher with certain types of drugs than others. For example, diuretics (or “water pills”) are most likely of all BP medications to cause ED, while beta blockers come with a lower risk. Then there are ACE inhibitors (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors), ARBs (angiotensin II receptor blockers), alpha blockers, and calcium channel blockers, which rarely cause ED. It’s important to know that while medications can cause ED, there are many other factors at play in getting healthy erections which are unrelated to medications.

What is ED and who should care?

Erectile dysfunction is defined as regular difficulties getting or maintaining enough of an erection for satisfying sexual intercourse. The key word here is “regular.” It’s normal for men to have problems getting hard on occasion, but when successful erections become the exception more than the rule, or when they flat out don’t happen anymore, that’s ED—and that can be a sign there’s something else going on.

One possibility here is heart disease. People with ED often also have high blood pressure or heart problems. This is especially true the older you get. But, some medications for high blood pressure can also cause ED or make ED symptoms worse.

So if you have symptoms of ED, and you’re also taking a BP medication (or thinking of starting one), you’ll want to read on.

The complete answer

Healthy erections depend on a whole bunch of things (mental, physical, psychological, emotional) going right at the same time. When they do, we don’t think about it. But when they don’t, there could be lots of issues in play. Medications are definitely one of the risk factors.

Taking a medication that prevents further damage to the heart and blood vessels should be good for ED symptoms, since erections depend on healthy blood flow. Erections happen when blood engorges the penis as a result of a complex series of emotional, neurological, hormonal and muscular processes. If your nerves and blood vessels don’t work properly—as can be the case with heart disease and high blood pressure—erections can become unreliable.

Unfortunately, some blood pressure medications can have the opposite effect on ED, actually causing ED or making existing ED worse. It makes sense: If a medication lowers your blood pressure, it might affect the flow of blood down there, too.

So, if you are taking a drug for hypertension and have ED, how can you tell if your medication is part of the problem? Along with having an honest discussion with your doctor about whether other health issues and lifestyle choices might be affecting your erections, you’ll want to know which blood pressure drugs are more likely to cause ED.

Diuretics, or water pills, commonly cause ED. Examples include:

Clonidine, guanethidine, and methyldopa also commonly cause ED.

Beta-blockers can also cause ED, but the risk is small. Examples include:

These blood pressure medications are unlikely to cause ED:

If your blood pressure medication is causing ED, you have several options:

  1. Ask your doctor if you really need your medication, and if you can try to cut down the dose or stop it completely.

  2. If you need medications to control your high blood pressure, do not stop treatment as this will just make your erection problems worse in the long run. Instead, ask your doctor if you can switch to a different medication that is less likely to cause ED.

  3. If you need to continue taking the specific medication causing your ED, don’t worry. There are treatments that directly target ED, including medications like Viagra (sildenafil) and Cialis (tadalafil). These medications are safe and effective, and are now available as affordable generics.

If you have ED, but are taking a blood pressure drug that rarely causes erection problems, know that there are other causes of ED besides heart disease and blood pressure medications. These include:

And remember: Alcohol and other recreational substances like marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methadone, amphetamines, and barbiturates might make you feel more in the mood for sex, but they make it more difficult to get a satisfying erection.

Ultimately, if you take a blood pressure drug and experience ED, the first step towards fixing the problem is to let your doctor know. It could be your medication, but it could be a whole list of other things, too. Your doctor will help you figure it out and find a solution.

How we decided

To answer this question, we performed an in-depth review of current scientific evidence related to hypertension, blood pressure medications, and ED. This included a survey of national and international guidelines on topics at the intersection of cardiovascular and reproductive health, representing the consensus of major professional groups like the American Urological Association who have reviewed and qualified a vast body of medical research themselves. (In other words, they’ve done a lot of the hard work for us.) In addition, we consulted recommendations published by current experts in the fields of cardiovascular health and sexual dysfunction.

Thankfully, there’s already a great deal of science behind heart disease—which makes sense. More than a third of Americans have high blood pressure, and it’s typically the first sign of heart trouble. In the last 20 years, we’ve also gained substantial knowledge about erectile dysfunction, including clarity surrounding the relationship between ED and high blood pressure, treatments for ED, and even medications as causes of ED.

The main study that looks into the effect of blood pressure drugs on ED is the Treatment of Mild Hypertension Study, published in 1997 but still informing clinical practice today. The study on 557 men ages 45 to 69 years with mild hypertension followed a randomized controlled trial design, regarded as the “gold-standard” methodology in clinical trials for being objective and free from bias.

In the experiment, patients were randomly assigned to either control or treatment groups. Patients in the control group received a placebo (sugar) pill, while patients in one of the five treatments groups received a blood pressure drug: a beta blocker, calcium channel blocker, diuretic, ACE inhibitor, or alpha blocker. All groups regardless of treatment received counseling on lifestyle changes like weight loss and increased physical activity. Changes in sexual function were then tracked as patients took their treatments over two years. At the end of the study, the rate of ED in the diuretic treatment group was more than twice that of the control (placebo) group (17.1% versus 8.1%)—and the rate of ED in the other four treatment groups was no different from that of the placebo group. These results were similar to those from an older study (1982) that found that ED was more common with diuretics than with beta blockers.

This, however, does not mean that beta blockers play no role in ED. They do, albeit a small one. In a systematic review from 2002 of 15 randomized controlled trials involving more than 35,000 men, researchers concluded that beta blocker use slightly increases a person’s annual risk for sexual dysfunction—that is, 5 in every 1,000 people given a beta blocker are expected to experience ED within a year. Good news.

As we looked into the topic further, we also found medical literature that described blood pressure medications not associated with ED. In a recent literature review from 2017, for example, three popular classes of blood pressure medications were cited as unlikely to cause ED: angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and calcium channel blockers.

Worth knowing: Some blood pressure medications called alpha blockers (such as doxazosin) might actually improve sexual drive and function, according to results from a randomized control trial published in 2005.

Lastly, a retrospective cohort study published in March 2019, in which researchers looked at about 40,000 men with high blood pressure, confirmed what experts suspected: Better control of blood pressure is associated with lower rates of ED. So, even if you think your blood pressure drug might be causing ED, don’t be tempted to skip on blood pressure drugs altogether.

Source: GoodRx

Keep in mind

ED can happen for many reasons, not just as a side effect of blood pressure medications. Even if you are taking a drug with some risk for ED, other factors might be at play, such as physical health conditions or mental health issues that can also raise your risk for developing ED.

The last thing you want to do is skip your blood pressure medications when you need them. Not only can blood pressure drugs help improve ED symptoms, but keeping your blood pressure within healthy limits is important for preventing heart disease, which itself is a significant cause of death. (23% of deaths in 2016 were caused by heart disease.) So, be sure to discuss your medications, medical history, and lifestyle habits with your doctor before deciding whether or not to stop your blood pressure medications.

In other words, ED might seem pretty simple: You get an erection, or you don’t. But there’s likely a lot going on behind the scenes, so take it slow and keep your doctor in the loop. Fortunately, there are lots of options.

Other choices

There are many different kinds of blood pressure medications, all with different side effects. And because we all have unique health problems, medications, and lifestyle habits, different people will experience these side effects differently. So, even though some drugs may carry a higher risk for causing ED than others, how you react to a drug will depend on your individual circumstances.

In any case, if your doctor confirms that your blood pressure medication is causing your ED, don’t worry. There are always other medications for high blood pressure you can try that might suit you better. Generally speaking, diuretics are most likely to cause ED as a side effect, and the following blood pressure drugs rarely cause ED:

You can do other things, too, like making lifestyle changes that may improve both blood pressure and erectile function. These include:

You may also want to consider medications specifically directed at treating ED, like Viagra (sildenafil), Cialis (tadalafil), or Levitra (vardenafil).

Finally, here are some other medical treatments for ED beyond these common oral drugs:

What’s ahead

New treatments for ED are making their way through research and clinical trials. Here are current contenders:

Not all of these treatments will make it to the pharmacy or doctor’s office, but more treatment options means more tools to help address different people’s needs.

Sources

High Blood Pressure and Erectile Dysfunction (ED)

    High Blood Pressure Drugs Not Likely to Cause ED
    If Your Medicine Causes Erectile Dysfunction

To treat erectile dysfunction (ED), you have to lower high blood pressure. Some people are able to do that through lifestyle changes alone. Others need help from prescription high blood pressure medication.

A problem for many men, though, is that some types of blood pressure drugs can cause erectile dysfunction. That may make it tough to stay on medication, especially if high blood pressure never caused any symptoms before. An estimated 70% of men who have side effects from high blood pressure medicine stop taking it.

While many drugs used to treat high blood pressure have been linked to erectile dysfunction, some are much less likely than others to cause problems. Certain high blood pressure drugs may even improve erectile dysfunction for some men.

It's known that diuretics (or water pills, like hydrochlorothiazide) and beta-blockers (like Atenolol) can also cause erection problems. These are also the first drugs that a doctor is likely to prescribe if you are not able to lower your high blood pressure through diet and exercise.
Continue Reading Below

If you take a diuretic, you should stay on it until high blood pressure is under control. If erection problems persist, or blood pressure goes back up, then your doctor might switch to a drug that's less likely to cause erectile dysfunction. Or, a combination of medications might work better to control high blood pressure and lower the risk of erectile dysfunction.

If you take a beta blocker, you may also want to ask your doctor if it might cause erectile dysfunction. You might be better off on a medication less likely to cause a problem.
High Blood Pressure Drugs Not Likely to Cause ED

Some families of high blood pressure drugs rarely cause ED as a side effect. They include:

    ACE inhibitors
    Alpha-blockers
    Calcium channel blockers
    ARBs

ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors -- such as Capoten, Lotensin, Prinivil, and Zestril for example -- widen blood vessels and increase blood flow. Erectile dysfunction is rarely a side effect, occurring in less than 1% of patients. There are several different drugs in this category. This seems to be true of all of them.
Prostate Cancer and Erectile Dysfunction

In this Article

    When Can Erectile Dysfunction Occur After Prostate Cancer Treatment?
    How Is Erectile Dysfunction Treated Following Prostate Cancer Treatment?

Prostate cancer is not often a cause of erectile dysfunction (or ED). However, treatments for the disease can cause it. The current methods of treating prostate cancer, including surgery with radical prostatectomy (removal of the entire prostate gland), radiation therapy -- whether by external beam or brachytherapy (seed implant) -- and hormone therapy, can all cause ED.
When Can Erectile Dysfunction Occur After Prostate Cancer Treatment?

    Radical prostatectomy. Erectile dysfunction can begin immediately following the removal of the entire prostate and surrounding tissues, whether the nerve-sparing or non-nerve-sparing technique is used. If the nerve-sparing technique is used, recovery from ED may occur within the first year following the procedure. Recovery of erectile function after a non-nerve-sparing technique is unlikely but possible.
    Radiation therapy. The onset of ED following radiation therapy is gradual and usually begins within 2 to 3 years following treatment. Without treatment for erectile dysfunction, ED is usually permanent.
    Hormone therapy. When hormone therapy is used, ED may occur approximately two to four weeks following the initiation of the therapy and is usually accompanied by a decreased desire for sex. Without treatment, the ED may become permanent.

How Is Erectile Dysfunction Treated Following Prostate Cancer Treatment?

The current treatment options for erectile dysfunction for people who have received treatment for prostate cancer include:
IFrame

    Pills, including Cialis, Levitra, Stendra, Staxyn, and Viagra
    Intracavernous injection therapy
    Vacuum constriction device
    Intraurethral therapy
    Penile prosthesis

Talk to your doctor or a specialist regarding treatment options for ED.
Erectile Dysfunction: Preventing It

For people who are at risk of developing erectile dysfunction, taking active steps to prevent its occurrence will also help you lead a healthier life overall. Some steps you can take to prevent ED include:
Continue Reading Below

    Stop smoking.
    Exercise regularly.
    Maintain a healthy weight.
    Review your medications with your doctor and ask about possible substitutions for those that may cause ED (never stop or change a medication without first talking to your doctor).
    Take prescribed medications as directed.
    Avoid excessive use of alcohol (more than two drinks a day).
    Avoid the use of illegal drugs.
    If you have a chronic illness such as diabetes or kidney disease, follow your doctor's guidelines to keep these conditions in control.
Understanding Erectile Dysfunction: Symptoms

    When to Call Your Doctor

Can't get or keep an erection so you can have sex? That's what doctors call erectile dysfunction, or ED.

If it happens only occasionally, it's not likely to be serious. All men have problems with erections at some time in their lives.

If it slowly but consistently gets worse, there's probably a physical cause. This is generally what happens with chronic impotence.

If it happens suddenly but you're still stiff early in the morning and can get an erection while masturbating, that suggests your mind is involved. There could be something going on physically, too.
Continue Reading Below

Pick up the phone if your ED worries you so much that it causes anxiety or threatens your sexual relationship. At the very least, your doctor can clear up misinformation, which often makes sexual problems worse. Sometimes taking medication for a short time can get you through a rough patch, too.IFrame

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Also talk to the doctor if it's painful to get an erection or difficult because your penis is curved (a condition called Peyronie's disease).
IFrame

If the problem doesn't go away, it could be an early warning sign of a more serious, larger condition. For example, the penile artery can get narrower because of coronary artery disease or diabetes.

To help your erections, your doctor may suggest taking medication as a pill or as an injection in your penis, or using a mechanical device. And you'll need to deal with the underlying medical condition, too.
Understanding Erectile Dysfunction: Symptoms

In this Article

    When to Call Your Doctor

Can't get or keep an erection so you can have sex? That's what doctors call erectile dysfunction, or ED.

If it happens only occasionally, it's not likely to be serious. All men have problems with erections at some time in their lives.

If it slowly but consistently gets worse, there's probably a physical cause. This is generally what happens with chronic impotence.

If it happens suddenly but you're still stiff early in the morning and can get an erection while masturbating, that suggests your mind is involved. There could be something going on physically, too.
Continue Reading Below
When to Call Your Doctor

Pick up the phone if your ED worries you so much that it causes anxiety or threatens your sexual relationship. At the very least, your doctor can clear up misinformation, which often makes sexual problems worse. Sometimes taking medication for a short time can get you through a rough patch, too.IFrame

Also talk to the doctor if it's painful to get an erection or difficult because your penis is curved (a condition called Peyronie's disease).
IFrame

If the problem doesn't go away, it could be an early warning sign of a more serious, larger condition. For example, the penile artery can get narrower because of coronary artery disease or diabetes.

To help your erections, your doctor may suggest taking medication as a pill or as an injection in your penis, or using a mechanical device. And you'll need to deal with the underlying medical condition, too.
Understanding Erectile Dysfunction: Symptoms

In this Article

    When to Call Your Doctor

Can't get or keep an erection so you can have sex? That's what doctors call erectile dysfunction, or ED.

If it happens only occasionally, it's not likely to be serious. All men have problems with erections at some time in their lives.

If it slowly but consistently gets worse, there's probably a physical cause. This is generally what happens with chronic impotence.

If it happens suddenly but you're still stiff early in the morning and can get an erection while masturbating, that suggests your mind is involved. There could be something going on physically, too.
Continue Reading Below
When to Call Your Doctor

Pick up the phone if your ED worries you so much that it causes anxiety or threatens your sexual relationship. At the very least, your doctor can clear up misinformation, which often makes sexual problems worse. Sometimes taking medication for a short time can get you through a rough patch, too.

Also talk to the doctor if it's painful to get an erection or difficult because your penis is curved (a condition called Peyronie's disease).

If the problem doesn't go away, it could be an early warning sign of a more serious, larger condition. For example, the penile artery can get narrower because of coronary artery disease or diabetes.

To help your erections, your doctor may suggest taking medication as a pill or as an injection in your penis, or using a mechanical device. And you'll need to deal with the underlying medical condition, too.