There are now several drugs available to help men achieve erections; the best known one is Viagra. Only your GP or specialist can determine if it is safe for you to take these drugs - they are not indicated for some men with certain medical conditions. There are many reasons why a man may experience problems getting or maintaining an erection. These may include:
- Lack of interest, desire or arousal.
- Insufficent stimulation.
- Anxiety about losing your erection.
- Grief.
- Relationship problems.
- Organic (medical) problems.
If the only cause is medical problems then drugs may well give you an erection that you wouldn't otherwise achieve. However drugs will not address the other causes and ignoring them may make them worse.
A skilled therapist can do a comprehensive assessment to identify all possible causes of any sexual problem and outline treatment choices.
Remember not to put all the emphasis on having an erection - sexual and sensual loving can occur without one and what is between the ears can be just as important if not more so than what is between the legs!
Each individual has to make the decision of whether drugs are the right solution for them. For example, many men who try using a drug find that their partner does not respond well to the idea of using Viagra. Couple therapy can also help resolve these problems.
Pharmaceutical companies are now working on developing an equivalent drug for women but so far there is no reliable or tested product. There is a lot of debate about whether there is a need for this.