Is nitric oxide an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction?

Nitric oxide can be an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction, as shown by Rice University scientists. A 2013 Medical Daily article by Chris Weller outlines how nitric oxide expands the blood vessels and allows for better blood flow, which is paramount to a functioning erection.

In a 2013 study by Rice University scientists, tiny nitric oxide beads were implanted into the region of the penis on rats that fills with blood and triggers erections. These scientists found less impotence in the rats and were able to sustain this improvement for weeks. Nitric oxide relaxes the blood vessels and allows the delivery of the blood to be more efficient, according to Chris Weller for Medical Daily.