Yes, you can receive erectile dysfunction treatment in Colombia as an international patient, and the process usually starts before you board a plane. I attend international patients in Medellín in English, and the first step is usually a virtual consultation to review your history and decide whether traveling makes sense for your case.
What I cannot tell you in advance is which treatment you need. That depends on what is causing the problem, what you have already tried, your general health and what you expect from treatment. This guide explains how I plan care for men who live outside Colombia: which options exist, which ones fit into a single trip, and how follow-up continues once you are back home. If your main question is about cost, I cover it separately in my article on erectile dysfunction treatment cost.
Can I get ED treatment in Colombia as a foreigner?
Yes. A urologist in Colombia can evaluate and treat erectile dysfunction in patients who live abroad, and with me the consultation can take place in English. The trip is planned around the treatment you are likely to need: some options are started in one visit and continued at home, while surgery requires a longer stay and a planned recovery.
Why do men travel abroad for erectile dysfunction care?
For a man who lives outside Colombia, the reasons to consider treatment here are usually practical. He wants time with a specialist, a clear explanation and a plan, and he wants to talk about a sensitive problem without a language barrier or a rushed appointment.
Speaking directly with your urologist in English matters more than it seems. Erectile dysfunction is discussed in detail: how erections change, what happens with medication, how it affects your relationship. Those details are hard to explain through an interpreter, and they change the decision.
Planning is the other reason. When the first conversation happens online, you arrive in Medellín knowing what will be done, which tests you may need and roughly how your visit will be organized. You are not traveling to find out whether you are a candidate. You travel once the plan makes sense.
What happens in your first evaluation?
The first evaluation is about finding the cause, not choosing a product. Erectile dysfunction can be linked to blood flow, diabetes, blood pressure, hormones, medications, pelvic surgery, Peyronie’s disease or stress, and often to more than one of these at the same time.
In practice, I review your medical history, the medications you take, previous treatments and how they worked, and your sexual history. A physical examination follows, and laboratory tests or penile imaging are requested only when they will change the decision. If you already have recent results from your country, we use them.
A treatment should never be chosen only because it is popular online or because it worked for a friend. Current European guidelines describe a personalized approach in which each option is weighed by how invasive it is, how well it is tolerated, how effective it is and what the patient expects, and they state that men should be counseled about all available treatments (Salonia et al., 2025).
Which erectile dysfunction treatments can we discuss?
These are the treatments I use in my practice, usually discussed in this order, from the least to the most invasive. The final choice is made with you, after the evaluation.
- Oral medication. Pills such as sildenafil or tadalafil improve blood flow during sexual stimulation. They are the usual starting point when there is no contraindication.
- Intracavernosal injections. A small dose of medication is injected into the side of the penis before intercourse. It works for many men who do not respond to pills, and the first dose is given in the office so we can adjust it safely.
- Low-intensity shockwave therapy. I use it as a complementary option in selected cases, mainly when the problem is related to blood flow. It is not a cure, and the evidence on how well it works is still mixed.
- Penile prosthesis. A surgically placed device, malleable or inflatable, for men who did not respond to other treatments or who prefer a permanent solution.
Vacuum erection devices are another non-surgical alternative that some men use at home, and they can be discussed during the consultation. The American Urological Association recommends that men with erectile dysfunction be informed about the full range of options, including penile prosthesis, so the decision is shared between patient and doctor (Burnett et al., 2018).
What about PRP or stem cell treatments?
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and stem cell injections are advertised in many clinics as regenerative treatments, but they are still experimental. A systematic review commissioned by the International Society for Sexual Medicine found mixed results for shockwave therapy compared with sham treatment and limited, inconsistent evidence for the other restorative therapies, and concluded that they need better trials before routine use can be recommended (Kohn et al., 2026). For that reason, I do not present them as established treatments.
What if ED pills are not working for you?
Pills that “do not work” do not always mean the treatment failed. Sometimes the dose was too low, the timing was wrong, the pill was taken right after a heavy meal, or it was tried only once or twice. Reviewing how the medication was used is the first step, and it changes the result for some men.
When the pills were used correctly and still do not give a reliable erection, the cause needs a closer look. Low testosterone, poorly controlled diabetes, side effects of other medications or reduced blood flow to the penis can all make oral treatment less effective. The next options are usually injections and, if those are not enough or not acceptable, a penile prosthesis.
If you have already been treated in your country, bring everything you have: the names and doses of medications you tried, test results, ultrasound reports and any notes from your doctor. That history saves time and avoids repeating tests that were done well.
If pills have stopped working for you, you do not need to travel to find out what comes next. Send me your history and we can review your options in a virtual consultation first. Book your virtual consultation.
Is a penile implant the same as penis enlargement?
No. A penile prosthesis for erectile dysfunction is a medical device placed inside the penis so a man can have an erection firm enough for intercourse. It treats the erection problem. It is not designed to make the penis longer or thicker.
Cosmetic implants marketed for enlargement are a different procedure with a different goal, and they are not a treatment for erectile dysfunction. Many search results about “penile implants in Colombia” mix the two, which is confusing for a man trying to decide.
There are two main types of prosthesis for erectile dysfunction:
- Malleable. Semi-rigid rods that you position by hand. Simpler mechanically.
- Inflatable. A system with a small pump placed in the scrotum that fills the device when you want an erection and empties it afterward, so the penis looks and feels more natural at rest.
A prosthesis is usually reserved for men who did not respond to other treatments, or who do not want to depend on pills or injections. It is surgery: it involves anesthesia, a recovery period and checkups, and once it is placed, natural erections are no longer possible. That is why the decision is never made in a hurry. If you also have curvature of the penis, read my guide to Peyronie’s disease treatment options in Medellín, because both conditions are often evaluated together.
Which treatments can fit into one trip?
Not every treatment fits the same kind of trip, and planning around that avoids frustration. This is how I think about each option for a patient who lives abroad:
| Treatment | What is done in Medellín | What continues at home | When you might need to come back |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oral medication | Evaluation, tests if needed, prescription and instructions on correct use | Taking the medication and adjusting it with remote follow-up | Usually not necessary |
| Intracavernosal injections | Evaluation, first dose in the office, dose adjustment and training to inject at home | Injecting at home and remote follow-up | If the dose needs to be reassessed in person |
| Low-intensity shockwave therapy | Evaluation and the treatment sessions | Monitoring the response | It is given as a series of sessions spread over several weeks, so it is hard to fit into a short visit |
| Penile prosthesis | Evaluation, surgery, early recovery and first checkups before you fly home | Recovery and remote follow-up | For a scheduled in-person review or if a complication needs examination |
How long you stay in Medellín depends on the treatment, and for surgery it is set during the consultation according to your case. The point of the table is simple: a short trip works well for starting medication or injections, while shockwave therapy and surgery need more planning.
Not sure which of these fits your case? Book a virtual consultation and we will plan your visit together, before you buy a ticket.
How does a virtual consultation before traveling work?
A virtual consultation is a video call in which we review your case before you commit to a trip. I offer it to patients who live abroad because it answers the most important question first: whether the trip makes sense.
You send your information.
Medical history, current medications, previous ED treatments and any recent tests.
We talk by video, in English.
I ask about your symptoms, your health and your expectations, and you ask everything you need.
We define a plan.
Which options are realistic for you, which tests can be done in your country before traveling and which ones are better done in Medellín.
You plan your trip.
With the plan clear, you organize dates and length of stay around the treatment.
A virtual consultation does not replace the physical examination. Some decisions, especially surgery, are confirmed only after I see you in person in Medellín.
What happens after you return home?
After you return home, follow-up continues remotely when it is appropriate: we review how you are responding, adjust doses and answer questions by video call. For oral medication and injections, much of the follow-up can be done this way.
Not everything can be solved online. Some situations require an examination, either with me in Medellín or with a doctor in your country, and it is better to know that from the start. Before you fly home, ask for a copy of your clinical record, so a doctor in your country can see exactly what was done and continue your care.
Know which symptoms are urgent and which ones you should report soon, because the right response is different:
Wherever you are: an erection that lasts more than 4 hours after an injection, or fever with increasing pain, swelling or redness after surgery.
Pain that is not improving as expected, bruising that keeps growing, discomfort with the pump of an inflatable prosthesis, or an injection that no longer works as before.
Talk to an English-speaking urologist in Medellín
If you are considering erectile dysfunction treatment in Colombia, the most useful first step is a conversation. I am Dr. Carlos Velásquez, a physician and surgeon trained at Universidad CES and a urology specialist from Universidad Militar Nueva Granada, and I see patients at Torre Médica Oviedo in Medellín.
In a virtual consultation, we review your history, discuss the options that fit your case and decide together whether traveling to Medellín makes sense. You will know what to expect before you book a flight, and you will have a plan for what happens when you return home.
What you get when you work with me
- One urologist from the first video call to your follow-up at home
- Every conversation in English, without an interpreter
- The full range of erectile dysfunction treatments, from oral medication and injections to shockwave therapy and penile prosthesis
- A clear plan before you travel: what will be done in Medellín and what continues at home
- Care at Torre Médica Oviedo, in Medellín.
Prefer WhatsApp? Write to +57 300 693 8413.
Frequently asked questions about ED treatment in Colombia
How do I book a consultation from abroad?
Use the contact form on this page or write on WhatsApp to +57 300 693 8413. We schedule a virtual consultation by video call, in English, and from there we decide together whether and when to travel to Medellín.
Is the consultation really in English?
Yes. I speak English, so we can discuss your symptoms, medical history and options directly, without an interpreter. That applies to the virtual consultation and to the visit in Medellín.
Can I start with a virtual consultation before traveling?
Yes, and for most patients from abroad it is the best way to start. We review your case by video call and decide whether the trip makes sense. The physical examination and some decisions, such as surgery, are confirmed in person.
How long do I need to stay in Medellín?
It depends on the treatment. Starting oral medication or injections fits into a short visit, while surgery requires a longer stay for recovery and the first checkups. The length of your stay is defined during the consultation.
Is shockwave therapy a cure for erectile dysfunction?
No. Low-intensity shockwave therapy is a complementary option for selected men, mainly when blood flow is the problem, and studies show mixed results. It is not a substitute for a proper evaluation, and it requires several sessions over a few weeks.
Will I need to stop my current medication before the consultation?
Do not stop any medication on your own. Bring a complete list of what you take, including doses, because some medicines affect erections and others interact with ED treatments. Any change is decided with you during the consultation.
Medical notice:
This article is for educational purposes and does not replace a medical consultation. Each case must be evaluated individually by a urologist.
Last updated: October 2026
References
- Salonia, A., Capogrosso, P., Boeri, L., Cocci, A., Corona, G., Dinkelman-Smit, M., Falcone, M., Jensen, C. F., Gül, M., Kalkanli, A., Kadioğlu, A., Martinez-Salamanca, J. I., Afonso Morgado, L., Russo, G. I., Serefoğlu, E. C., Verze, P., & Minhas, S. (2025). European Association of Urology guidelines on male sexual and reproductive health: 2025 update on male hypogonadism, erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, and Peyronie’s disease. European Urology, 88(1), 76–102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2025.04.010
- Burnett, A. L., Nehra, A., Breau, R. H., Culkin, D. J., Faraday, M. M., Hakim, L. S., Heidelbaugh, J., Khera, M., McVary, K. T., Miner, M. M., Nelson, C. J., Sadeghi-Nejad, H., Seftel, A. D., & Shindel, A. W. (2018). Erectile dysfunction: AUA guideline. The Journal of Urology, 200(3), 633–641. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2018.05.004
- Kohn, T., El-Sakka, A., Facio, F., Martinez Salamanca, J. I., Raheem, O., Park, K., Lin, G., Goldstein, I., Cocci, A., Hamel, C., & Lee, W. G. (2026). Systematic review on the safety and effectiveness of restorative therapies for erectile dysfunction. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 23(7), qdag145. https://doi.org/10.1093/jsxmed/qdag145
Schedule your medical appointment with Dr. Carlos Velásquez - Urologist in Medellín
