Last November, a panel of the American Urological Association listed five potential therapies. The two that failed to pass muster or had very limited benefits were yohimbine, a drug that can be taken orally, and surgery to correct defective penile veins or arteries. One approved treatment is a vacuum device that consists of a plastic cylinder that looks like a test tube with a pump attached. The patient places the cylinder over his penis and pumps the air out, drawing blood into the penis an creating a erection. An elastic band is then placed around the base of the penis to maintain the erection.
Surgical implants are another option.
One kind is a pliant rod that keeps the penis somewhat distended and can be raised or lowered at will. When the pump is squeezed, the liquid from the reservoir fills the cylinders, and the penis becomes erect. Squeezing a release bar near the pump returns the fluid to the reservoir. The third approved treatment is the penile injection called Caverject, which was used as part of my ultrasound test. The self-injected alprostadil relaxes the smooth muscles in the penis and expands the arteries to improve blood flow.