Management of erectile dysfunction by the primary care physician

Erectile dysfunction is common and closely associated with age and risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The oral selective inhibitors of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) have become the treatments of choice, owing to their convenience, general safety, and broad-spectrum effectiveness. For the same reasons, they have greatly simplified the workup. Thus, the general practitioner has gradually replaced the urologist for the initial management of erectile dysfunction and the proper evaluation of cardiac status before starting treatment with the PDE5 inhibitors. The following review provides a practical approach for the management of erectile dysfunction in primary care.