Sexual health care, explained clearly.
How common treatments for erectile dysfunction and low desire work, the safety information that matters, and what care looks like with a licensed clinician.
Updated October 16, 2026
This page is for general education and is not medical advice. Only a licensed clinician who reviews your health history can decide whether a treatment is right for you.
Common sexual health concerns
Changes in desire, arousal, or erections are common and can happen at any age. They can be linked to stress, relationships, sleep, hormones, medications, or physical health conditions.
For men, erectile dysfunction (ED) can sometimes be an early sign of heart disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure. That's one reason a clinician reviews your overall health first, and may recommend an in-person exam or lab work before treatment.
Treatments for erectile dysfunction
Sildenafil and tadalafil belong to a group of medicines called PDE5 inhibitors. They help increase blood flow to the penis when you are sexually aroused. They do not cause an erection on their own, and they do not increase desire.
Sildenafil
Taken as needed, usually about an hour before sexual activity. A high-fat meal can delay how quickly it starts to work.
Tadalafil
Lasts longer in the body than sildenafil. It can be taken as needed or, for some people, as a lower daily dose.
What to expect
Sildenafil and tadalafil are among the most widely studied treatments for erectile dysfunction, and in clinical studies most men taking them had improved erections compared with placebo. They need sexual stimulation to work.
Choosing between them
Sildenafil usually starts working in about 30 to 60 minutes and lasts several hours, which suits planned moments. Tadalafil can work for up to 36 hours, and the low daily dose means you don't need to plan around timing. Your clinician can help you decide which fits your routine.
Common side effects include headache, flushing, stuffy nose, indigestion, and dizziness. Tadalafil can cause back or muscle aches. Sildenafil can cause temporary changes in color vision or sensitivity to light.
Get medical help right away if you have
- An erection lasting more than 4 hours
- Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes
- Sudden decrease or loss of hearing, or ringing in the ears with dizziness
- Chest pain, fainting, or shortness of breath during or after sexual activity
PT-141 (bremelanotide)
Compounded · not FDA-approved as dispensed
Bremelanotide works on melanocortin receptors in the brain, which are involved in sexual desire. Unlike sildenafil and tadalafil, it works through the nervous system rather than blood flow.
An FDA-approved bremelanotide product exists, but it is approved only for premenopausal women with a specific type of low sexual desire, and it comes in a prefilled autoinjector. The PT-141 Sequence offers is a compounded medication. It is not that FDA-approved product, and it is not FDA-approved for any use, including use in men. The FDA does not evaluate compounded medications for safety, effectiveness, or quality.
Why people consider it
Low sexual desire, especially when desire, not blood flow, is the main concern. Because it works in the brain, it is sometimes considered by people for whom sildenafil or tadalafil haven't helped.
What the research shows
In clinical trials of the approved bremelanotide product in premenopausal women with low sexual desire, it led to modest improvements in desire and less distress compared with placebo. Research in men is limited, and compounded PT-141 has not been studied in these trials.
Common side effects include nausea (which can be significant, especially with the first dose), flushing, headache, and injection-site reactions. Bremelanotide can also cause a temporary rise in blood pressure and a lower heart rate after each dose, and some people develop darker patches of skin, especially with repeated use.
What to expect during treatment
- Complete your health intake. Share your health history, medications, and what you hope to change. It's private, and it takes about ten minutes.
- A licensed clinician reviews it. They may ask follow-up questions, request blood pressure readings or lab work, or recommend an in-person visit. Completing an intake does not guarantee a prescription.
- If prescribed, your medication ships discreetly. You'll get instructions on how and when to take it.
- Check in regularly. Your clinician reviews how it's working and any side effects, and adjusts your plan if needed.
Everyone responds differently. If a treatment isn't working for you, tell your clinician rather than taking more than prescribed.
Frequently asked questions
Is PT-141 FDA-approved?
No. The PT-141 Sequence offers is a compounded medication. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved, and the FDA does not evaluate them for safety, effectiveness, or quality.
Can women use sildenafil or tadalafil?
Sildenafil and tadalafil are used to treat erectile dysfunction in men. A clinician can talk with women about options that may fit their situation.
Can I take these with alcohol?
Drinking a lot of alcohol can make side effects such as dizziness and low blood pressure more likely, and can make erections harder to get. Ask your clinician what's safe for you.
Is my information kept private?
Your intake is reviewed by a licensed clinician, and your health information is protected as described in our privacy policy and HIPAA notice. Medications ship in discreet packaging.
Talk with a licensed clinician.
Complete a short health intake and a clinician licensed in your state will review it and decide with you whether treatment is appropriate.
Start your intake Completing an intake does not guarantee treatment. Prescriptions are issued only when a licensed provider determines they are clinically appropriate. Compounded medications, including PT-141, are not FDA-approved.