Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a very common medical condition affecting over 3 million people yearly. The good news is that there are many different treatment plans for ED and healthcare providers who offer treatment. This can also make it difficult to decide which treatment option is best for you and who you should speak with to address your concerns, leaving many men to delay treatment or avoid it altogether. In a study of six million men with ED, only one-quarter of them actually received treatment.¹

Erectile dysfunction is the inability to get and maintain an erection that is firm enough for penetrative sex. There are many potential physical and psychological causes of ED. So, while most people can pretty easily diagnose themselves with ED, it is essential to see a doctor who specializes in ED to identify the underlying cause of your symptoms and get you started on the most effective treatment for you.

Can Your Primary Care Doctor Treat Erectile Dysfunction?

There are benefits and drawbacks to seeing your primary care doctor for ED. Key benefits include your familiarity with them and their practice, ease of making an appointment, and their training to treat a wide range of medical conditions.

The drawbacks to seeing your primary care doctor are pretty much the same as the benefits. If you are uncomfortable discussing your ED symptoms with your primary care doctor, you may be more comfortable with an online doctor or specialist. While being trained in a wide range of conditions makes primary care doctors fantastic gatekeepers for healthcare, it can make it difficult for them to keep up with all the treatment options available for each medical condition.

Depending on the time of year, your primary care provider may be swamped with patients or run behind because they have a series of patients that require more than their allotted time. For example, medical conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome and evaluating head rush and chronic dizziness can take some time because the list of possible underlying conditions is very long.

If you are most comfortable seeing your primary care doctor for your ED symptoms, make an appointment and get evaluated. Especially as you get older, ED is more likely to have an underlying physical cause, and it could be an early indicator of cardiovascular disease.²  If your primary care provider feels it is necessary, they can refer you to a specialist.

Benefits Of Going To An Erectile Dysfunction Specialist 

Depending on the underlying health condition causing ED, your doctor may refer you to a urologist or an endocrinologist.

Dedicated Time

A specialist has dedicated time to addressing a single health condition, unlike your primary care doctor, who has an unpredictable schedule and a wide range of potential patients seeking care. Because they treat erectile dysfunction regularly, they will most likely have a standard workup and can thus budget the time necessary to fully explore your symptoms and physical concerns.

Specialist Equipment And Resources

Urologists have specialized equipment and access to various ED treatment options. For example, your primary care doctor may be very comfortable prescribing oral ED treatment, such as Viagra, Cialis, Vardenafil, or Avanafil.

A urologist or an online clinic specializing in men’s health will have additional options, such as Trimix. How and where to buy Trimix is pretty straightforward with online clinics. In many cases, you make an online appointment, talk to the doctor, and if you are a good candidate for Trimix, they will teach you how to do self-injections and ship the medication to your home.

Many men choose to make an appointment with an online specialty clinic to purchase Trimix and other injectable treatments for ED because they know the doctors who prescribe it do so frequently and are very comfortable with how to prescribe it and the side effects to advise men to look for.

Because Trimix is a combination of three medications that work synergistically to treat ED, it’s no wonder men have an 80 to 95% success rate with Trimix injections.

Specialized Knowledge 

Online or in-office specialists have in-depth training in their field and keep current with the latest treatment options and research findings. This can be especially important for men who have difficult to treat ED. For example, men with type 2 diabetes and obesity may have fairly advanced blood vessel disease. Oral ED medications dilate blood vessels, but they are not very effective when blood vessels are damaged.

Finding An ED Specialist 

Your primary care doctor is the first place to start when looking for an ED specialist. They may have a network of specialists they are used to referring to. They may also have received feedback from patients on whether they were satisfied with the care they received.

You may also want to check with your insurance company. They typically have a list of in-network specialists in your area.

In addition to specialists in your area, check online specialty clinics, such as Invigor Medical, specializing in men’s health. Read their reviews and the information they make accessible to prospective patients.

Things To Look For In A Specialist

Here are some factors to consider when looking for a specialist:

• Accessibility: How easy will it be to make and get to your appointment?
• Insurance coverage: If you do not plan to pay outright for your appointment costs, will they be covered by your insurance?
• Reviews: Does the urologist make patient reviews public?
• Check their credentials: Check the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) to verify that the urologist is board-certified in his specialty and to see which services and procedures they are authorized to provide.
• Call the office: Talk to someone in the office to ask about availability and assess the staff’s friendliness and helpfulness.

When Should You Talk To A Doctor About ED? 

ED is much more common as you get older. Discussing ED with your doctor if you have concerns should be part of your age management plan. In addition to talking with your doctor and receiving a medical assessment, consider making any necessary lifestyle changes that may improve your ED symptoms.

Lifestyle changes that may improve ED symptoms:

• Obesity is a risk factor for ED. Improve your body composition if you need to lose a few pounds.
• Consume a nutritious diet high in antioxidants.
• Make movement and physical activity part of your daily routine.
• Stop smoking.
• Reduce your alcohol intake.
• Get 7 to 9 hours of restful sleep.
• Check your medications for side effects.

DISCLAIMER

While we strive to always provide accurate, current, and safe advice in all of our articles and guides, it’s important to stress that they are no substitute for medical advice from a doctor or healthcare provider. You should always consult a practicing professional who can diagnose your specific case. The content we’ve included in this guide is merely meant to be informational and does not constitute medical advice.

References:

1. Doherty K. Most men with erectile dysfunction don’t seem to get treatment. Medical Express. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-men-erectile-dysfunction-dont-treatment.html
2. Ostfeld RJ, Allen KE, Aspry K, et al. Vasculogenic Erectile Dysfunction: The Impact of Diet and Lifestyle. The American Journal of Medicine. 2021/03/01/ 2021;134(3):310-316. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2020.09.033

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