Researchers found that a more “normal and natural” experience is preferred by men and their partners, but what was also found is that it is vital the partners be involved in any treatment.
Many men with erectile dysfunction (ED) experience distress, depressive symptoms, reduced self-esteem and / or diminished quality of life, while many sexual partners feel responsible for the problem or experience their own sexual dysfunction. Fortunately there are first-line oral medications (called PDE5 inhibitors) to treat ED that are well-tolerated and safe.
A study was conducted in Canada amongst 2 425 patients in over 260 medical practices with the aim of determining which of the two top oral PDE5 inhibitor treatments were preferred by both the patient and their partner. The results, which were published last year, showed that while patients found treatment efficacy between the two quite similar, the treatment that allowed the man and his partner to return to normal spontaneous intimacy, was preferred.
This ‘Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction' or TED Study, the first to assess physician-based ratings of patient preference and partner preference, questioned patients who had had experiences with both top selling ED treatments, particularly regarding the following factors: Efficacy, tolerability and safety, perceived success and negative outcomes of therapy, cost, convenience, reliability, partner preference and naturalness.
Patients who planned to change from tadalafil or sildenafil to the alternative drug were invited to participate in the study. Factors which would make one treatment preferential to another included categories such as better erections, morning erections, well tolerated, easier to use, duration of action, partner preference, cost and whether the treatment was old or new.
Improved results
Reasons sited for the significantly higher preference for tadalafil, a PDE5 inhibitor which can be effective for up to 36 hours, were both medical and non medical based. While 90% of the patients who took either treatment said that the treatment had improved erections, reasons why many more preferred tadalafil, included better erections, the medication was better tolerated, easier to use, the medication allowed for morning erections, longer duration of effect, a more rapid onset of action, more ‘natural' and more ‘normal' erections and sexual encounters, and better compatibility of medication with food.
Other studies published over the last few years have also concluded that these PDE5 inhibitors can be very effective for the treatment of ED.
In fact, four separate independent studies conducted in Western Europe over the past few years, concluded that the overall efficacy of PDE5 inhibitors were between 81% and 91% in clinical practice. The results of these studies also stated that when preference is based on ‘time concerns”, tadalafil was selected by most patients.
Involving partners in treatment is crucial
The sponsor of this study, Lilly Pharmaceuticals, had no direct role in patient selection and did not provide the medications for the study. The treatment preference of patients is complex, with many factors influencing choice.
Understanding the underlying reasons influencing the preference of patients might improve patient compliance and satisfaction with treatment. It is also important for ED sufferers to actively involve their sexual partners in the assessment and / or treatment of their ED. Men, who may be experiencing erection problems, and their partners, are urged to speak to their health care practitioner about possible causes and treatment options. The treatment of ED is tailored to the individual, with the severity and cause of the ED always taken into account by the doctor. The doctor will discuss the best type of treatment options, possible side effects and what medical or psychological conditions could be causing the ED.
