Intracavernosal injection therapy and other treatment options for erectile dysfunction

In the United States, almost 30 million men have complete or partial erectile dysfunction. This disorder occurs in approximately 52% of men between 40 and 70 years of age; 70% of affected men younger than 35 years of age have psychogenic causes, and 85% of men older than 50 years of age have organic impotence. Furthermore, erectile dysfunction is exacerbated by the presence of such conditions as heart disease, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia and the medications used to manage them. Thus, a widespread segment of the population is in need of a safe and effective treatment strategy for restoration of normal sexual function. The technique of intracavernosal injection therapy was initially described in the early 1980s. During the subsequent decade, the effectiveness of various drug combinations and the associated side effects were demonstrated. In 1995, prostaglandin E(1) was approved for intra-cavernosal pharmacotherapy. It has proved highly effective for neurogenic, vasculogenic, and psychogenic erectile dysfunction, with reported response rates of 75 to 92%. The major side effect (albeit uncommon) is corporal fibrosis. Other options for treatment of erectile dysfunction are vacuum-erection devices and penile prostheses.