Emma Howard: Hello! I'm Emma Howard and I'm joined by Dr. Jonty Heaversedge. He is an expert on men's health problems. Hello Jonty.

Dr. Jonty Heaversedge: Hi Emma.

Emma Howard: I have a question here from a man who wants to know if there are alternatives to Viagra and can homeopathic remedies be effective, he says.

Dr. Jonty Heaversedge: I'm not an expert on homeopathy and I have to say I've not seen any research suggesting that the remedies are effective. There are a lot of herbal remedies on the market; a lot of them come from India, and from the Far East, which I guess it maybe worth trying. Again, I have seen no good research to back them up as an alternative to Viagra, if you have a rectal dysfunction. But the power of suggestion, particularly when it comes to issues around erection and potency, I think it's quite significant. So, if it helps then it maybe worth trying them.

Emma Howard: Would you be interested in this person's age, I mean is that relevant when they want to know if Viagra would help their condition, do you think?

Dr. Jonty Heaversedge: Well, I think absolutely, what's most relevant is actually what underlying the problem because a rectal dysfunction always has a psychological element but sometimes it has a significant physical element as well. So it's important that he has been checked out to make sure he is not diabetic, he doesn't have high blood pressure, these are the conditions that can contribute to rectal dysfunction.

Emma Howard: Which would probably need a discussion with a doctor. It is almost seem that he is somebody who doesn't want to go and talk about this.

Dr. Jonty Heaversedge: Absolutely! And he is hoping of that actually there'll be an answer that doesn't involve discussion with the doctor but anyone with the rectal dysfunction needs to talk to the doctor because there are physical conditions that can cause it that need to be identified. And actually, also there are psychological conditions predisposed to it. So a lot of men maybe suffering with depression which is something they struggle to talk about and that definitely will also affect a rectal dysfunction.

Emma Howard: And just talking about that just to one person could make a big difference.

Dr. Jonty Heaversedge: It could make a huge difference because it might be that if you can treat those problems actually maximize your treatment of diabetes, of high blood pressure or of depression that actually it's impossible to get normal erections again without specific treatment such as Viagra.

Emma Howard: Great! Good advice, Jonty, thank you very much. Well, if you have a similar problem, we hope we might have given you some help, but remember it's always best to go and see your own doctor for medical advice. Thanks for watching; we'll be back with more health questions and answers.