Erectile dysfunction guidelines

Erectile dysfunction guidelines

The American College of Physicians has published a Clinical Practice Guidelines regarding hormonal testing and pharmacologic treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. The guideline recommends that clinicians initiate therapy with a PDE-5 inhibitor (sildenafil, vardenafil, or tadalafil) in men who seek treatment for ED and do not have a contraindication such as concomitant nitrate use. They rate this a strong recommendation with high-quality evidence. The choice of a PDE-5 should be based on preference, including ease of use, cost, and adverse effects profile. The guideline does not recommend for or against routine use of hormonal blood tests or hormonal treatment in the management of patients with erectile dysfunction due to insufficient evidence to determine benefits and harm. The guideline reviewed more than 100 randomized controlled trials that showed that PDE-5 inhibitors improved successful sexual intercourse and improved erections in men with ED (Ann Intern Med 2009 Oct 19;).