The most common disease among millions of men in the world is ED. It refers to the failure to produce or maintain a sufficient erection for penile/vaginal access. There are many ways of treating ED. One of the newer options in recent years is sildenafil gel.
Sildenafil gel is a topical medication used to treat ED, applied to the skin around the penis. It’s a derivative of sildenafil, the drug contained in the oral contraceptive pill Viagra. The gel will dissolve in the skin and into the veins of the penis and cause an erection within 15 minutes.
The safety of sildenafil gel in treating ED has been controversial. Some experiments were successful, others were ineffective. Here, in this article, we’ll explore the evidence that sildenafil gel can treat ED.
Studies
One of the first trials of sildenafil gel was published in 2002 by scientists at the University of Southern California. In their trial, they discovered that the gel was successful at generating erections in ED men with an 83% success rate. Its subjects, too, were overwhelmingly happy with the treatment. But it was a small study, involving only 21 subjects, and without a control group.
Another 2003 study, conducted by researchers at the University of California in San Francisco, also produced promising results for sildenafil gel. They concluded that the gel caused erections in 73 per cent of ED men. The trial was larger – 232 participants – and had a control group. The gel, the scientists added, was relatively easy to take and suffered from few adverse effects.
But not all trials have demonstrated sildenafil gel as effective. According to a 2004 study by scientists at the University of Virginia, the gel was no more effective than a placebo in generating erections. The trial included 199 patients and a control group, but it had no follow-up to see whether the treatment was sustainable.
A subsequent 2014 study by researchers at the University of Rome yielded similarly disappointing results for sildenafil gel. They discovered that the gel only worked on 45% of men with ED and the effect did not persist. It included 150 patients and a control group, but it also featured a brief follow-up period.
Even with the mixed findings, some conditions might play a role in sildenafil gel’s ED effectiveness.
1. Faster Onset of Action:
Perhaps the best thing about sildenafil gel is that it actually begins to work much faster than regular oral sildenafil tablets do. When delivered intrabuccally – via the slough of the cheek – or intranasally, sildenafil gel escapes the digestive system, bypassing first-pass liver metabolism of oral medicines and maximising sildenafil’s bioavailability. This, in turn, aids in achieving the therapeutic effect faster, and allows men to experience the ED relief sooner. For most patients, this is all they care about: a swift reaction in an impulsive context that makes sex easier without waiting as long as when taking pills or pills.
2. Reduced Gastrointestinal Side Effects:
One of the primary drawbacks of oral sildenafil pills is that they may cause gastrointestinal problems when taken. Other men report dyspepsia, nausea and diarrhoea after taking the medicine, and they may hate this. Sildenafil gel, however, may not experience such digestive problems because it is absorbed either through the mouth or nose. By eliminating the digestive tract, this gel formulation prevents the kind of adverse reactions that derail treatment. Avoiding stomach distress can help patients tolerate medication more effectively, provide greater patient satisfaction and, as a result, improve the chances of benefit from treatment.
3. Improved Patient Compliance:
Mental distress from ED can have a profound impact on patient compliance with medications. Sildenafil in the traditional tablet formulation can be perceived as an embarrassment or reminder of the disorder, and may discourage some men from seeking or sustaining treatment. Sildenafil gel, with its non-invasive and more discreet administration, may increase compliance by eliminating the psychological barriers to ED treatment. This increased compliance might contribute to the treatment’s overall efficacy.
4. Enhanced Erectile Response:
The intrabuccal or intranasal administration of sildenafil gel increases sildenafil levels in the blood more dramatically than oral pills. This boosted bioavailability might be responsible for a boost in the erectile response, especially in those with severe ED or those who haven’t responded to conventional oral medications. Because sildenafil gel has the potential to improve erections, it might be a promising option for treating ED.
5. Personalized Dosing:
Sildenafil gel can be customized for individual dosing, and that is part of what makes it effective against ED. The gel composition allows the dose to be easily titrated so that healthcare professionals can adapt the medication to each patient’s condition. Individualised doses can enhance treatment effectiveness, reduce side effects and boost patient satisfaction, which may be factors contributing to sildenafil gel’s success as an ED treatment.
On the safety front, sildenafil gel is generally well tolerated with few side effects. Local irritability and burning sensation are the most frequently experienced side effects, typically mild and temporary. However, some had worried about the possibility of a systemic uptake of the gel, resulting in headaches and dizziness.
Conclusion:
Thus, evidence was not good enough to support its efficacy in ED. A few of these had promising effects, while others have shown no effect at all. The effectiveness of this gel might vary from one to the other, and it may not be suitable for everyone. Always consult your physician before you start taking any ED medication, including sildenafil gel. It will take further studies to know if and how effective and safe this topical treatment for ED is long-term.
