For those who are afraid of surgery and its many complications, they can turn to several medications to cope with impotence. Vasodilators, drugs that cause blood vessels to dilate, are commonly used for this purpose. The most popular of these is nitroglycerin which is prescribed for angina (chest pain).

When applied to the penis, nitroglycerin ointment increases blood flow to that organ, producing sufficient erection. But there’s a catch: the drug often gives women a headache! Therefore, use a condom before having sex with your partner.

Other minor side effects of nitroglycerin are dizziness, nausea, vomiting or weakness. The worst you can probably expect from this drug are fainting, palpitations or sweating. But since nitroglycerin is also highly flammable, there’s a chance you might be consumed literally by the flames of love although no casualties have been reported so far.

“There have been isolated reports of some individual successes with this form of treatment but no definitive scientific study has yet been completed. While some patients might benefit from medications to improve penile arterial blood flow, side effects such as headaches or stomach upset are common. Vasodilator therapy as a treatment for impotence has not been adequately studied scientifically,” according to Dr. Stephen W. Leslie, assistant clinical professor of surgery at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Impotence: Current Diagnosis and Treatment.

Vacuum enhancement therapy is a non-surgical method of treating impotence that relies on a mechanical device. These devices have been around for more than 70 years and have been successfully used by more than 50,000 patients either for the long-term management of impotence or as a temporary aid in psychological impotence.

The first vacuum constrictor device (VCD) was conceptualized by Otto Lederer in 1917 who got a patent for his invention that would supposedly put an end to impotence.

Throughout the years, VCDs have been modified in an attempt to solve the problem of impotence. One device called the Erec-Aid System sells for about $400. Its manufacturer said more than 15,000 units have been sold in the United States since 1983.

How does Erec-Aid work? Find out in the fifth part of this series. If your partner has a diminished sex drive, help her recover with Fematril, a safe and natural female sexual enhancer that can stimulate your mind and body. For details, go to http://www.fematril.com/.