Specialist in Male Sexual Dysfunction, Peyronie's Disease and Male Infertility Joins UH

Aram Loeb, MD, takes men beyond the blue pill

UH Clinical Update | August 2019

 Aram Loeb, MD

As a specialist in urology, Aram Loeb, MD, treats men who have advanced erectile dysfunction, those for whom Viagra (or Cialis, which is not blue) are not good or effective options.

Dr. Loeb got his medical degree from Wright State University, follow by an internship in general surgery and a residency in urology, at Wayne State University. He then became a fellow in Sexual Medicine at the University of South Florida, with an emphasis on male sexual dysfunction, Peyronie’s disease and male infertility.

He says one of the best aspects of his specialty is he offering a treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED) is that it is known for creating the highest satisfaction among therapies.

“The greatest unawareness among primary care physicians is in the area of advanced management of ED, in terms of all options that are out there,” says Dr. Loeb. “PCPs will prescribe Viagra and Cialis, but beyond that, you would refer a patient to a urologist who specializes in this.”

The gold standard treatment, Dr. Loeb says, is a penile implant. While that is not a new procedure, it is vastly different from what it used to be.

“People think it’s crazy aggressive surgery, but it isn’t – it is outpatient surgery,” he says. “It takes less than an hour, you go home the same day and the recovery is fairly short. 

“The treatment restores function to bring back intimacy, so it provides high patient and partner satisfaction.”

The penile implant – which has which is accompanied by a pump in the scrotum that allows for inflation – has an extremely low risk of infection (1 to 2 percent) and complications.  Technological advances have made newer implants more durable. 

Most men have the same implant for at least 10 years, says Dr. Loeb. There is no age limit for having this procedure performed.

But what causes erectile dysfunction in the first place? It can be due to a side effect of cancer treatment, or as a result of diabetes, hypertension and other medical conditions. ED is considered the “canary in the coal mine,” as it often is the first sign of cardiac disease.

Men’s unwillingness to see physicians, for physicals or even a potential medication, is well-known. Sometimes, the first physician a man will see is a urologist, to deal with ED, often at the urging of an intimate partner.

That is why urologists, especially at UH, determine if their patient has a primary care physician at UH. If not, the urology staff can help find one and make an appointment.

Other treatments for ED remain available, such as injections of the penis, and vacuum devices. The shock wave therapy you hear about on sports radio is not something UH offers, based on questionable results.

Dr. Loeb does his surgeries at UH Cleveland Medical Center. He sees patients there, as well as at UH Parma Medical Center and UH Ahuja Medical Center. To make a referral, call 440-887-9139.