| Treatment | US trade name | Method of use and effect | Advantages and limitations | Usage pattern |
| Suppository | ||||
| Alprostadil intraurethral pellet | Muse | Alprostadil (prostaglandin E1) in gel form delivered by applicator into meatus of penis. Causes vasodilation by direct vascular smooth muscle relaxation allowing blood flow and entrapment in penis. | Less invasive than intracavernosal injections, but also less effective. Can be used twice daily. Not recommended with pregnant partners. | Inserted 5 to 10 minutes before sex. Effects last up to 1 hour. |
| Penile injection | ||||
| Alprostadil | Caverject Edex | Prostaglandin E1 injected into base of penis. Causes smooth muscle relaxation in corpus cavernosae. | Effective in 50 to 85 percent of cases. Disadvantages include dislike of penile self-injection, pain at injection site, requires reconstitution and sterile technique, not for use more than three times per week or more than once per 24 hours. Bleeding risk with anticoagulants. Priapism occurs uncommonly. | Inject 10 to 20 minutes before sex. Erections may last over an hour. |
| Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP, aviptadil) and phentolamine | Invicorp (not available in US) | Causes vasodilation by direct vascular smooth muscle relaxation allowing blood flow and entrapment in penis. | Possibly more effective than alprostadil. Causes less pain. Priapism rare. | Inject 10 to 20 minutes before sex. Requires stimulation to have erection. |
| Device | ||||
| Vacuum pump | Various | Removes air from chamber over penis, creating a vacuum and drawing blood into penile cavernosae. Elastic tourniquet at base holds blood in penis. | One-time expense. Safe if erection not maintained more than one hour. May not be acceptable to partner. Penis is hinged at base. May interfere with ejaculation. Can cause bruising of penis. | Inflated just before sexual activity. Erection lasts until elastic ring removed. |
