Safer Alternatives to Prescription Drugs for Treating Erectile Dysfunction

Last Updated on January 23, 2023 by Joshua Isibor

For a guy, impotence (erectile dysfunction) is pretty damn terrifying—so much that a recent study found that most men diagnosed with erectile dysfunction won’t even admit it to their spouses. They want to pretend they’re packing like Jon Hamm and nothing’s wrong.

But in reality, men spend an inordinate amount of time obsessing about their penises—it’s our source of pride. Right or wrong, most men judge their masculinity by how much sex they have or how skilled they are at having it.

So, what happens if your member suddenly isn’t quite rising to the occasion? If you’re anything like most people, your medicine cabinet slowly evolves. From a collection of skin and hair care products into something resembling a magician’s potion cupboard, filled with trendy (and difficult-to-pronounce) herbs, enzymes, vitamins, roots, and minerals, all offering the hope of improved erection.

While you may try using supplements or other medications to help with erectile dysfunction (ED), the possibility that safer alternatives could be helpful is intriguing. However, you need to understand the ED causes before diving into the safer alternatives to prescription drugs for treating erectile dysfunction.

Causes of Erectile Dysfunction

Before you start down the naturopathic route, it’s wise to ensure that there isn’t some underlying medical condition that needs correction.

Millions of American men experience erection issues, and 70% of these cases result from life-threatening conditions that block blood flow, like vascular disease, atherosclerosis, kidney disease, diabetes, or neurological disease.

Additional factors that can contribute to ED include:

• Certain Medications- antidepressants, opioid painkillers, sleeping pills, anxiety treatments, heart medicines like digoxin, and blood pressure pills.
•  Hormonal disorders- testosterone deficiency and thyroid conditions
• Smoking, alcoholism, and drug misuse, especially the use of cocaine
•  Obesity and metabolic syndrome
•   Surgical injury
• Spinal cord or pelvic injuries
• Psychological factors- depression, anxiety, fear of intimacy, and sexual expectations

Physical factors account for 90 percent of ED cases, while psychological causes are far less frequent. In contrast, a review found that 9–25 percent of men have sexual performance anxiety.

It’s easier to treat ED once you rule out its cause, but a family doctor is an excellent place to start before you decide to self-medicate to make yourself a better lover. Your doctor can recommend safer alternatives to prescription drugs. Let’s walk through some of the most common safe treatments.

3 Safer Treatments for Erectile Dysfunction than Prescription Medications

Most modern ED prescription drugs offer short-term benefits at best, and some come with severe side effects. For instance, a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology found that men who often use PDE5Is such as sildenafil (e.g., Viagra), vardenafil (e.g., Levitra and Staxyn), and avanafil (e.g., Stendra) were 85% more likely to have suffered significant eye problems.

Now, if you and your penis insist that “it’s still worth it,” keep in mind that these eye conditions could result in blindness. While your penis may regularly make decisions for you, your eyes and vision are also pretty darn important.

So, let’s ditch the blue pill and perk up with safer alternatives!

1.Lifestyle Changes

Like many aspects of your health, your sex drive gets affected by what you put into your body. A few beers and a thick steak, followed by a decadent chocolate dessert, may sound romantic, but it is a gateway to sleep–not sex.

So, for those of us who could use a little libido pick-me-up, the grocery store might be an excellent place to start.

Studies show that ginger and chili peppers promote circulation and stimulate nerve endings, which could, in turn, enhance sexual pleasure.

Foods that aid in weight loss may also increase libido. Dr. Ridwan Shabsigh, associate professor of urology at Columbia University’s medical school and director of the New York Center for Human Sexuality, states that “solid research” links obesity to erectile dysfunction and low testosterone. He also adds that losing weight leads to an increase in testosterone and an improvement in sexual function.

From an erection standpoint, anything that’s good for your heart is good for your penis. Over time, lots of saturated fat can cause artery blockages, stopping enough blood from getting to the genital area. This obstructs not only performance but also sexual pleasure.

Once you work on your diet, don’t forget to exercise. Pelvic exercises helped 40% of men with ED regain normal erection function, according to research from the University of the West. The study shows that pelvic muscle training may effectively treat ED and other pelvic health problems.

The best exercises for ED are pelvic floor exercises or Kegels. These exercises concentrate on the muscles at the base of the pelvis, particularly the pubococcygeus muscle. Its ability to stop blood from leaving the erect penis is compromised when this muscle becomes weaker.

Performing pelvic floor workouts will strengthen and enhance the tone of the pubococcygeus. Note that it may take 4–6 weeks before you notice a difference in erections.

Additionally, stress management and enough sleep might improve erection issues. It seems that males who experience sleeping problems are prone to develop ED. According to a study published in 2016, 63% of males with obstructive sleep apnea also experienced erectile dysfunction.

Consider improving your sleep hygiene: keep the bedroom solely for sleeping and sex, abstain from using electronics or watching TV right before bed, limit your caffeine intake during the day, and practice relaxation techniques before bed.

And let’s not forget to quit smoking and alcohol!

2.Sex Therapy

I know what’s running through your mind, but you’re not having sex in front of a therapist to get pointers and tips. And contrary to what some believe, there’s nothing odd, weird, or kinky behind the sex therapist’s office door.

Sex therapy, in plain terms, is resolving sexual difficulties or dysfunctions. It is a form of psychotherapy that considers potential physical, emotional, and psychological issues.

In a session, a therapist helps you work through emotional issues contributing to erectile dysfunction, such as performance anxiety.

There are three main types of sex therapy. They include:

 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – CBT teaches you how to change negative behaviors into positive ones. For erectile dysfunction, your therapist could ask you to reflect on the thoughts that go through your mind before or during sex. 

The next step is to explore ways to replace sex-inhibiting thoughts with more constructive ones. You will learn to be present and focused on the here and now—thinking only about how your body reacts to sexual stimulation. You can also learn relaxation techniques through CBT to help reduce anxiety.

Psychosexual Counseling- In these sessions, you’ll learn how to communicate your desires during sex. Discussing your intimate sentiments and desires with your spouse can help to calm anxious thoughts that could trigger erectile dysfunction “in the moment.” According to studies, engaging in this activity with your spouse improves persistent erectile dysfunction.

Sensate-Focus Therapy- This kind of therapy entirely forbids sexual activity, at least at the beginning of the sessions. You and your partner will decide to refrain from having any intercourse for a predetermined number of weeks or even months. You can kiss or touch each other – but erogenous zones are off-limits.

The objective is to explore each other’s bodies in a non-sexual way and build anticipation. After the sex-free phase ends, you’ll gradually touch and kiss each other more intimately. A man may find it easier to achieve and maintain an erection with heightened sexual stimulation.

One thing should be clear: Under no circumstances should you have to remove your clothes in a sex therapist’s office, or should the therapist be touching you. Sex therapists don’t touch their patients unless gynecologists or urologists are present and a physical exam is involved.

The Phoenix

The Phoenix is a device you can use from the comfort of your home to improve ED and your overall erection health. It enhances erection quality by using cutting-edge acoustic waves to expand blood vessels within the penis while creating new blood vessels.

Here is a quick snippet of how it works: The targeted sound waves safely dissolve the plaque that has collected in existing blood vessels. By doing this, it helps to increase blood flow back to the penis. 

It doesn’t hurt, but it is enough to trigger the body’s natural healing response, which rushes stem cells and other vital nutrients into the area to help tissue recover – resulting in improved performance and improve blood vessels to maximize blood flow.

Note: The Phoenix is non-invasive shockwave treatment, technically requiring “zero downtime” while eliminating the adverse effects found in most oral medications used to treat erectile dysfunction in men.

Get Your Erectile Dysfunction Sorted Today!

Many men experience erectile dysfunction (ED), which is naturally unpleasant. The good news is that ED is treatable. Your sex life doesn’t have to suffer because of a temporary drug side effect, a psychological condition, or a persisting issue. The safer alternatives to prescription drugs above for ED help you rise above the stress and stigma often associated with ED drugs.

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