After decades of zero health problems, Noel had his first encounter with sexual dysfunction. The public health expert noticed changes in his body as he approached the big 5-0, but he wasn't ready to give up on such a large part of his sex life.
Noticing ED-related sexual problems
Noel was a healthy 47-year-old when he and his partner, Bill, first noticed trouble in the bedroom. To the couple's dismay, Noel's erections weren't lasting as long as they once had.
“I’m completely satisfied. It opened doors that I thought were closed forever. The sensations also were back to my younger days. Thank you very much!”
Verified PurchaseHe could get an erection, but when it came time for the main event, he couldn't perform.
"If I can't maintain the rigidity (of an erection), it's not going to accomplish what I want to accomplish, and I'm not the type of person that will complete the act in five minutes," Noel said in an interview with Giddy.
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common health condition that affects men of varying ages. It's characterized by the inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse.
In the United States, ED has become a significant health concern, impacting the quality of life and overall well-being of millions of men. One 2012 study suggests as many as 30 million men suffer from ED.
Luckily, there are science-backed treatment options that can help men with ED like Noel manage and overcome this condition. It is possible to successfully treat ED.
Trying out medications to treat erectile dysfunction
Noel said he missed the days when "everything worked without any consideration whatsoever."
When asked what his ideal ED treatment would be, he comically responded, "To be 20 again." In the absence of a time machine capable of restoring his erectile function, Noel decided to seek medical help.
Following a visit to his primary doctor and a urologist, Noel received prescription drugs for two erectile dysfunction oral medications, Viagra and Cialis. He tried the prescription medications on their own, per his doctor's instructions.
He found the negative side effects of ED medications outweighed the little positive improvement he saw in his erections.
"So for a couple of hours of pleasure, I then have to suffer a day or two," he explained. "I mean, with the Viagra, I get heartburn for three days, and we're not talking mild; we're talking it's really severe. It wakes me up. I can't sleep at night sometimes," Noel added.
The side effects Noel experienced from the medication were so disruptive that he returned to his doctor's office to search for a new treatment option.
"I would call them approaches, not solutions," Noel said.
Undergoing penile injections to combat erectile dysfunction
Noel's next approach was a bit more intense. His urologist took the penile injection route, which Noel described as "extreme" and "horrendous." One of the injection treatments created a "real ache scenario," he explained.
"So you're almost in pain the whole time, you get a very quick response, it maintains itself for three hours, you have no choice over that," he said. "And you have this incredible ache the whole time."
All in all, Noel felt the injections were not worth the time and pain to try to treat erectile dysfunction.
"I mean, talk about anticipation," he said. "You have to do it 30 minutes in advance, and you have to inject yourself, which is a very unpleasant experience, and then you have no control over it for three hours to go there, and it stays there no matter what. And if it goes to four hours, you have to go to the emergency room."
Furthermore, he said the injection vials have a short shelf life and must be stored in cold conditions.
"It's very expensive, all of these things," he said.
After multiple approaches failed, the Gen X-er felt he was at a dead end.
Trying a more natural remedy for ED: Navigating the long road to Eddie®
Eddie by Giddy™ was the last alternative Noel tried to address his ED. Noel was pessimistic about the device's ability to help with his sexual dysfunction.
"To say the least, I wasn't convinced because, to me, it sounded the same as a constriction ring," he said. "And within the gay population, those were very well known."
After learning about Eddie's patented design, he quickly changed his mind.
"I was excited when I first got it," he said. "It was like, oh, God, you know, let's keep our fingers crossed and hope this works. That is a part of life that I have always enjoyed and I'm not willing to give it up.”
Prior to Eddie's arrival, Noel watched a few instructional videos so he knew what to expect.
"It's a non-chemical-based solution, and I'm all for that because these chemical solutions are not working for me," he said.
With the help of Eddie, Noel said he was able to last longer in the bedroom.
The bottom line
Erectile dysfunction can stem from a variety of physical and psychological factors. ED is not a typical part of aging. Some men stay sexually able into their 80s, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Anyone experiencing ED should seek professional medical advice to determine the underlying cause and find the right ED treatment to fit their situation.