Do Pills for ED Really Work?

Q. I’m 50 years old with type 1 diabetes, and I have ED. I’m exercising regularly 20 minutes daily. Do those pills you see on TV with the guy smiling all the time really work?
A. Diabetes is linked to sexual difficulties, particularly erectile dysfunction. There is ample evidence that drugs such as Viagra, Cialis and Levitra do work for many men. An analysis of several studies reports that Viagra results in successful intercourse roughly 50 to 80 percent of the time. That compares to 14 to 35 percent success for placebo treatment (Clinical Interventions in Aging, Dec., 2006).
Please discuss this problem with your physician. Even if the ED drugs you see advertised were not effective for you, there are a number of other treatment options.