Men’s Health Medicines

Name: Men’s Health Medicines
Creator: Dr Zamiel Hussain

Men’s health medicines are used to manage conditions affecting sexual function, prostate health, hormone levels, urinary symptoms, and hair loss.

Treatment decisions are individualised and based on:

age
cardiovascular risk
symptom severity
medication interactions
mental health considerations
blood test results where appropriate

Some medicines improve symptoms. Others modify hormone pathways or affect blood flow. Assessment is important before prescribing, particularly when symptoms may signal underlying cardiovascular or endocrine conditions.

These articles are intended as educational sources, not diagnostic nor taking place of a proper medical assessment. If you need help, please book an appointment with one of our GP’s.

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Erectile Dysfunction (ED) Medicines

Erectile dysfunction medicines improve blood flow to the penis and are commonly used when there is difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection.

Common examples include:

sildenafil
tadalafil
vardenafil

These medicines belong to a class called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors.

Important considerations

ED can sometimes be an early marker of:

cardiovascular disease
diabetes
hypertension
hormonal imbalance

Assessment should include cardiovascular risk review before prescribing.

These medicines are not suitable for individuals taking nitrates or certain heart medications.

💡 Why proper assessment matters

While some medicines are available through online pharmacies, proper GP assessment ensures:

Underlying health conditions aren’t missed
Drug interactions are identified
Cardiovascular risk is appropriately managed
Dosing is optimized for individual needs
Side effects are monitored over time

This is particularly important for ED medicines, where symptoms may signal undiagnosed diabetes or heart disease.

Prostate and Urinary Medicines

Men may experience lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), including:

weak stream
urinary frequency
urgency
nocturia

Common medicines include:

Alpha blockers

Examples: tamsulosin, alfuzosin
These relax the muscles around the prostate and bladder neck.

5-alpha reductase inhibitors

Examples: finasteride, dutasteride
These reduce prostate size over time by affecting hormone pathways.

Monitoring and review are important to ensure symptoms improve and to assess PSA testing where appropriate.

Testosterone and Hormonal Medicines

Testosterone deficiency should only be diagnosed with:

consistent symptoms
confirmed low blood levels on appropriate testing

Testosterone therapy is usually specialist-led and requires monitoring.

Inappropriate testosterone use can carry risks including:

cardiovascular complications
infertility
mood changes

Thorough assessment is essential before considering treatment.

Hair Loss Medicines

Androgenetic alopecia (male pattern hair loss) may be managed with medicines such as:

finasteride
topical treatments

Finasteride affects hormone pathways and may have side effects including changes in libido or mood in some individuals.

Discussion of risks and benefits is important.

Medicines for Premature Ejaculation

Certain medicines may be used to help delay ejaculation, often off-label in primary care.

Treatment is individualised and may involve psychological and behavioural approaches alongside medication.

Monitoring and Safety

Men’s health medicines may require:

blood pressure monitoring
cardiovascular risk assessment
PSA testing where appropriate
hormone level testing
review of side effects

Because some symptoms overlap with cardiovascular disease or endocrine disorders, review should not be purely symptom-based.

You can read more in:

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are erectile dysfunction medicines safe?

For many men, ED medicines are safe when prescribed after appropriate assessment. They are not suitable for people taking nitrates or certain heart medicines.

2. Can low testosterone be treated online?

Low testosterone requires proper blood testing and assessment. Treatment decisions are often specialist-led and require monitoring.

3. Do prostate medicines cure enlargement?

Some medicines improve symptoms by relaxing muscles or shrinking prostate tissue over time. They do not eliminate the condition but may improve quality of life.