Will a pill really help your sex life?

Erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs are more readily available than ever before, and in general, men have gotten past any stigma about needing them. Yet many men still approach ED drugs the wrong way.

"Men feel their sex life is not good and see an ED drug as an easy, quick-fix solution. But more times than not, there are underlying issues at play that a pill can't help," says Dr. Louis Liou, chief of urologist at Harvard-affiliated Cambridge Health Alliance.

FYI on ED

While men might have other sexual issues, such as low libido, premature ejaculation, and the inability to achieve orgasm, ED pertains explicitly to not being able to get or maintain an erection. ED drugs address only that issue, by improving blood flow into the penis and keeping the blood in place to maintain an erection.

There are four ED drugs currently available: sildenafil (Viagra), avanafil (Stendra), tadalafil (Cialis), and vardenafil (Levitra). At least one ED drug works in about 70% of men, but results vary among individuals. Men who have nerves or arteries damaged by prostate surgery, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease often do not respond as strongly to ED drugs.

Which drug is right for you? Finding out is often a trial-and-error approach. Many doctors first prescribe Viagra because it has been around the longest and has a high success rate, says Dr. Liou.

If one drug doesn't work after a predetermined period, your doctor may increase the dosage or prescribe one of the others. "Sometimes, you have to try all of them before knowing whether ED drugs work for you," says Dr. Liou. An ED drug kicks in within 15 minutes to an hour after you take it and can last anywhere from four to five hours up to 24 hours or longer depending on the drug. (See "ED drugs: How soon and how long?") It's best not to take the pill with food or soon after a meal, which can block absorption.