In order to maintain an erection, the man then needs to confine the blood to the penis. This is done by placing a special band around the base of the penis. Even though this procedure may be cumbersome, it is touted by Newsweek as being the most effective. (Sexual Function; Newsweek, June 16, 2003).
Another alternative to Viagra in attaining an erection is through penile implants. Penile implants are used by more than 200,000 men in America and what they are, are silicon rods or inflatable devices surgically implanted into the penis. The rods create a permanent erection while inflatable models bring on erections on demand through the use of a pump. The latter method is prone to complications though the article did not elaborate. (Sexual Function; Newsweek, June 16, 2003).
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The final method of alternatives to Viagra that Newsweek magazine covered was counseling. If a man continues to achieve an erection while sleeping, or experiences problems only with a certain partner, then the problem may be more psychological than physical. Roughly 15 percent of men have emotional problem due to erectile dysfunction and counseling and sex therapy may be all that they need to overcome their problem. (Sexual Function; Newsweek, June 16, 2003).
This article was an excerpt written by Dr. Harvey B. Simon and was "dummied up" for Newsweek magazine so the layperson could understand it. There was no attention to detail as we don't really know where the information was derived from or what methods were used to arrive at their conclusions. .
Conversely, the research written in the American Urological Association (AUA) is extremely detailed oriented. The purpose of this study was to determine the satisfaction rates from men who were treated for erectile dysfunction with sildenafil (Viagra), intracavernous prostaglandin E1 [(ICI) injections], and penile implant surgery. The study further cites vacuum erection devices (vacuum pumps), MUSE (soft pellets), and alprostadil injections.