On August 1, 2018, the Ashanti Regional Hospital in Ghana is getting Men’s Clinic, a unit specifically set up to manage and treat erectile dysfunction (ED).
Erectile dysfunction in Ghana
According to one of the doctors behind the push for an ED clinic, Dr. Samuel Amanama, erectile dysfunction is increasing in Ghana, likely due to diabetes, old age, hypertension and some sickle cell conditions.
Dr. Amanama says that the social challenges of ED have left many men seeking out solutions that end up being fruitless. In some cases, men create their own concoctions to treat their erectile dysfunction and end up going to the hospital with serious complications.
Because many herbal alcoholic so-called treatments aren’t regulated, men end up being deceived by the false advertising and continue to suffer from erectile dysfunction because they don’t seek out legitimate treatments, such as the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra.
Treating erectile dysfunction with Viagra
Viagra is the best-selling ED drug in the world for good reason: it works for more than 80% of men with erectile dysfunction.
Now that men in Ghana have a clinic dedicated to ED, they can talk to a doctor about whether Viagra is right for them. This is a vital conversation, as some men shouldn’t take Viagra. For example, men who take nitrates, alpha-blockers, HIV protease inhibitors or some types of oral antifungals may be advised to avoid Viagra.
Some health conditions may lead doctors to decide that Viagra isn’t the best choice for treating your ED, but it will depend on how recent and how severe these issues are. To be safe, it’s important to disclose your full past and current health history to your medical provider, especially for things like heart problems, hypertension, stroke, low blood pressure or high blood pressure that’s not controlled, a deformed penis shape, retinitis pigmentosa, bleeding or liver problems, kidney problems, stomach ulcers or severe vision loss.
Although Viagra does have some side effects, the more commonly reported concerns are so minor that most men continue taking Viagra. These include things like headache, upset stomach, flushing, stuffy or runny nose, back or muscle pain, nausea, dizziness or a rash.
