ORAL TREATMENT OF ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION - FROM HERBAL REMEDIES TO DESIGNER DRUGS

The erect penis has always been a symbol of power, virility, and ferti lity. Inability to obtain or maintain an erection, known clinically as erectile dysfunction, is a major health problem. It can cause conside rable distress, unhappiness, and relationship problems. The search has therefore continued from time immemorial to find an effective, safe, and easy to administer treatment for erectile problems. AL though a nu mber of these treatments became available in the last two decades, the y all had problems with efficacy, safety, or ease of administration. C linicians in this field often are told at the end of an assessment int erview ''I wish you have a magic pill.'' An effective and safe oral tr eatment is, no doubt, the most acceptable and easy to use option. Find ing such a treatment has always been the dream of many scientists, and many attempts have been made over the years. These ranged from herbal remedies used by native healers, mostly in Eastern countries, to the more sophisticated designer drugs, which are based on a better underst anding of the physiological mechanism of erection. This article descri bes some of these attempts.