[Erectile dysfunction and phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors]

Abstract

Erectile dysfunction affects 150 millions of men and its prevalence increases with age. The improvement of life expectancy will increase the worldwide prevalence to 300 million in 2025. Oral treatments are nowadays the first line therapy for the vast majority of people as they have a good reliability and tolerance and restore more spontaneity. The authors relate the widespread interest in phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors with the advent of sildenafil for the treatment of erectile dysfunction and present characteristics of 2 new phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors in Belgium, tadalafil and vardenafil.