Intracavernosal injection therapy: a practical guide.

Over the course of the last decade intracavernosal injection therapy has become a recognized first-line therapeutic option in the management of men with erectile dysfunction. In the hands of well-trained and educated patients, penile self-injection represents a highly effective, reliable therapy with an excellent safety profile. Efficacy rates can be maximized by the utilization of multiagent vasoactive compounds. The incidence of adverse events can be significantly reduced by careful selection of the patient and a comprehensive education program. While long-term drop-out rates remain in the 30% range in most large series. structuring the injection training and follow-up program in a "user-friendly" fashion will ensure optimal compliance within any given population of patients.