This New ED Treatment is a Game Changer
A Common Problem With New Solutions
If you’ve ever felt frustrated waiting for ED medication to work, there’s good news.
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a condition that affects millions of men worldwide, but now a world-first nasal spray treatment is available — and it’s only in Australia.
In Australia, 1 in 5 men will experience ED at some point. It becomes more likely with age:
Around 40% of men at age 40
Around 70% of men at age 70
While common, ED is not something you have to simply “put up with.” It’s highly treatable, and new medical advances are making treatment faster, more effective, and easier to use.
What Exactly Is Erectile Dysfunction?
ED is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection firm enough for penetrative intercourse.
The causes can be divided into two main types:
Organic (physical) causes – These reduce blood flow to the penis and can include:
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Diabetes or poor sugar control
Excess weight
Smoking history
Side effects of prostate cancer treatment
Psychological causes – These affect confidence and performance, including:
Depression or anxiety
Relationship stress
Performance anxiety
How an Erection Works – and Why It Sometimes Doesn’t
During sexual arousal:
Blood vessels in the penis widen, letting blood flow in.
Veins that normally drain blood are compressed, trapping blood inside.
This creates increased firmness, length, and girth.
If blood flow in is reduced, or blood escapes too quickly, erections become weaker or shorter-lasting.
Treatment Options Available
While there’s no “one size fits all,” treatments can be tailored to the cause:
Lifestyle improvements
Exercise regularly, especially resistance/weight training
Maintain a healthy weight
Eat more whole foods and fewer processed foods
Stop smoking
Manage underlying conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes
Medical treatments
Tablets (PDE5 inhibitors) – Viagra®, Cialis®, Levitra®
Boost the body’s natural erectile response
Work only with sexual stimulation
Take around 30–60 minutes to become effective
Injections
Deliver stronger medication directly into the base of the penis
Produce a firmer, longer-lasting erection
Requires comfort with self-injection and monitoring for side effects
Vacuum pumps
Draw blood into the penis mechanically
Used with a constriction ring to maintain the erection
Surgery (penile implants)
Considered only when other methods fail
A World-First: Spontan® Nasal Spray
Spontan® is the first nasal spray for erectile dysfunction and contains the same active ingredient as Levitra® — but works faster.
How it’s used:
The spray is administered into the nasal cavity, which has a rich vascular network. This allows the drug to bypass the digestive system and first-pass liver metabolism, enabling faster absorption.
Speed of onset: Clinical studies show that Spontan® reaches peak concentration in about 12 minutes, compared with 56 minutes for standard oral vardenafil tablets.
Lower dose: Despite using about half the dose compared to oral tablets, Spontan® achieves comparable or even superior peak concentration in some measures.
Advantages:
Rapid onset – works in 10–15 minutes instead of up to an hour
Lower dose – potentially fewer side effects like headache, flushing, or heartburn
Bypasses the digestive system – avoiding delays from food or stomach absorption
Risks & Limitations:
It still requires a prescription. Not over-the-counter.
As with all PDE5 inhibitors, there are possible side effects: headache, flushing, nasal irritation, possibly more serious but rare events like sudden vision changes, hearing loss, or priapism.
Because it’s relatively new, long-term data are more limited than with established oral ED medications.
Availability:
Currently only available in Australia
Prescribed by urologists at select sites
Requires a specific approval process
What’s New / Why it Matters
For many people, reluctance to use oral PDE5 inhibitors relates to waiting time, side effects, or insufficient response. Spontan® promises to address several of these issues — faster action, lower dose, possibly fewer side effects.
Better suitability for patients who have difficulty swallowing pills, or who want a more spontaneous option.
Take the Next Step
If you experience ED — whether occasionally or regularly — there are now more options than ever.
See your GP to find out more about what is available and appropriate for you.
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