What is Erectile Dysfunction - Treatment, Causes, Symptoms

Erectile Dysfunction

What is Erectile Dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction, which was previously referred to as impotence, is a physical condition, when a man can't achieve erection or maintain it. Although problems with erection happen to everyone at least once in a lifetime and are caused due to certain diseases, stress or too much alcohol consumed, but if the problem is no longer temporary and persists during 6 months or more, then it means that you have Erectile Dysfunction, and it needs to be treated.

ED Degrees

There are three degrees of Erectile Dysfunction:

Mild ED – ability to achieve and maintain successful erection 7 to 8 times out of 10 attempts
Moderate ED – ability to have successful erection 4 to 6 times out of 10 attempts
Severe ED – ability to achieve erection less than 3 times out of 10 attempts.

Previously this problem was not considered that common, and the reason for this was that not many men wanted to talk about their erection problems and share them with anybody.

Nowadays, as certain treatments and medications that help people live with Erectile Dysfunction are present on the market, men are not anymore scared to talk about ED, and there are some detailed statistics available to study and understand the incidence, causes and tendencies of Erectile Dysfunction.

Statistics

Worldwide, approximately 30% men suffer from any degree of Erectile Dysfunction.
There are alone 30 million of men having Erectile Dysfunction in the United States.
Approximately 50% of the men suffering from diabetes also suffer from Erectile Dysfunction. The first Erectile Dysfunction problems for men with diabetes appear within the first 10 years after diagnosis.

With age the possibility of getting erectile dysfunction increases:

At the age of 40 – 39%
65 or older – 65%.

Men abusing alcohol, drugs and cigarettes are more likely to suffer from Erectile Dysfunction. For instance, those men, who smoke more than one pack of cigarettes per day, have 50% higher chances of getting ED, than men of the same age who do not smoke.

Some urologists say that the number of men looking for Erectile Dysfunction treatment will double in the nearest few years.

Erectile Dysfunction Symptoms

Erectile dysfunction, also called ED, is a very common problem for men all around the world. In America alone Erectile Dysfunction affects up to 30 million of men. Erectile dysfunction means consistent inability to achieve and maintain an erection strong enough for sexual intercourse, needed to please yourself and your partner in sex. Most men happen to go through some kind of inability to have or keep an erection by the time they are 40, but these rare cases are usually not considered erectile dysfunctions.

Diseases and general health condition affect sexual performance and can cause erectile dysfunction. For example, diseases like diabetes, kidney disease, atherosclerosis and alcoholism take up to 70% of erectile dysfunction cases, while psychological issues only cause from 10 to 20% of ED cases. Diabetes is the most common symptom of erectile dysfunction, and if you suffer from diabetes, be prepared to have ED symptoms at some point, as over 50% of men, who have diabetes, suffer from erectile dysfunction.

When such symptoms happen to a man repeatedly, then the doctor consultation is advised, as most probably, erectile dysfunction treatment might be required. Erectile dysfunction mostly has physical causes, which can as well be combined with psychological issues. No matter what caused ED and what symptoms you have, with all the technological and scientific innovations in the recent years, Erectile Dysfunction is now treatable at any age.

Erectile dysfunction is not only a physical problem, but even more – psychological. Rare cases of inability to get or keep an erection long enough usually do not affect a man mentally, but if this keeps happening over and over again, any man will become anxious and concerned about his health and sexual performance. Such nervousness can worsen the situation with erection problems and lean to serious emotional problems in bed and in relationship.

Erectile dysfunction symptoms are usually a reason for lowering of self-esteem and depressions in many men. Although erectile dysfunction is not inevitable in the process of growing older, don't get too stressed-out, if you happen to have erection problems, as most of ED symptoms are cured.

The most visible symptom of erectile dysfunction is, of course, inability to reach or sustain a long enough erection, needed in order to complete a sexual intercourse. And the more often this happens to you, the more likely it is that you are having ED. Don't get upset and don't think your sexual life is over, if you start having problems with potency. Many men live with this problem and their sexual life is happy and successful. You will also be able to find the right solution to fight your erectile dysfunction problems and will live a healthy sexual life and will be able to make your partner happy!

If you are having persistent problems with some process of an erection (frequently unable to have an erection, when masturbating or having sexual stimulation with a partner, or often unable to maintain your erection long enough or hard enough to complete sexual activity), then you need to see your physician and check for possibility of having erectile dysfunction.

Contact Your Doctor

With certain symptoms, it is easy to diagnose ED. Visit your doctor and inform him about the problems you are having during sex. Make it as soon as possible, the sooner you see your doctor, the sooner you will be able to return your sexual life back to normal. Your doctor will first review your patient history to see possible causes, which could lead to ED problems (maybe a surgery or an injury, which previously happened to you). In some cases, your erectile dysfunction symptoms might be caused by side effects of certain drugs you are currently taking, and all symptoms will go away as soon as you stop taking these drugs.

Physical Examination

In most cases, additional physical examination and medical tests will be required to find the right cure for you. The doctor will check, if your penis is touch-sensitive, thus checking the work of nervous system in the penis. He will examine possible abnormalities with patterns of hair growth, enlargement of breasts, which can indicate possible problems with hormone level and improper work of endocrine system.

Physician will check your pulse and heart rate in order to see any possible problems with blood pressure or work of heart, as well as problems with blood circulation. Unusual reaction of penis on erection will also be examined by your doctor to indicate possibility of having Peyronie's disease.

Tests, made in laboratory for indicating possible causes of ED will mostly include blood tests, urine analysis, creatinine measurements, checking of liver enzymes and other. Measurements of testosterone levels in blood and erection monitoring are other common lab tests performed, if erectile dysfunction is suspected. A nocturnal erection testing is sometimes used to check if the symptoms are correct. Your doctor should also advice you to see a psychologist and talk to him about your erection problems.

Don't hesitate to contact your doctor and tell him about your problems if you notice any erectile dysfunction symptoms. Be sure, there is a cure for your potency problems, and the sooner you will find it, the sooner this problem will vanish from your life!

Erectile Dysfunction Causes

Erectile dysfunction is a very common problem among men nowadays. Around half of men at age forty and older are affected by this problem to some extent. The older men get, the more chronic the problem of ED becomes.

Thus, when at the age of forty only 5% of men have constant erectile dysfunction problems; by the age of 65 it's already 15 to 20% of men, who have chronic erectile dysfunction effects. Inadequate erection is a problem of over half of men at the age of forty to seventy.

Physical and Mental Causes

Erectile dysfunction is considered to have many different causes, both physical and mental. Thus, physical causes of ED account for about 70% of cases, while psychological problems are reason for 30% of ED problems. But in many cases, the two causes complement each other, making the diseases worse.

The most common causes for erectile dysfunction are diabetes (as much as one third to one half of men having diabetes, suffer from erectile dysfunction as well), atherosclerosis, kidney disease and alcoholism, which account for about 70% of cases, while such psychological causes, as depression, anxiety and stress result in about 10 to 20% of erectile dysfunction cases.

Erectile dysfunction can also be caused by psychological problems. Depression, stress, low self-esteem, anxiety account for 10-20% of causes of erectile dysfunction. Fear of sexual failure can often lead to real failure during sex. Psychological causes of ED are easier to cure, as sometimes they can be treated with sex therapy. In most cases, psychological ED affects young men.

To understand the causes of erectile dysfunction symptoms and problems, it's necessary to understand what penis consists of and how erection occurs.

Erectile Dysfunction Treatments

Erectile dysfunction, though a very common problem, has many ways of treatment. There are lots of men with erectile dysfunction, who are having a great sexual life and who have managed to live with erection problems. You also will be able to manage your problems with potency and perform great in bed whenever you need to.

Addressing the Root of the Problem

The first thing to do, if you are suffering from erectile dysfunction, is understand the causes of it. If you are suffering from small irregular problems with erection, then it is very likely that you're suffering from light erectile dysfunction, which might be caused by psychological problems or some minor problems with health. Any psychological reasons for impotency can be easily overcome and such erectile dysfunction can be treated with sex therapy.

Visit a Psychologist

If you are not feeling confident, if you have low self-esteem, if you feel nervous and anxious, when it comes to sex, then you should contact a psychologist and advice with him about it, as your psychological factors might easily influence your sexual performance, leading to even lower self-esteem, and, therefore, more problems with erection. Due to this reason, many doctors have hard time answering the question, whether erectile dysfunction is a cause of psychological problems, or psychological problems cause problems with erection. The answer is, one of them leads to another, and then it goes in circles, only making it worse. Contact a sex therapist to stop this cycle and renew your confidence in bed.

If you have a wife or a girlfriend, it might be helpful to visit a family counselor, who will advice you as a couple how to cope with this problem and how to relieve the tension between you, improve your sexual communication skills and develop real sexual expectations for both of you.

If psychological treatments do not help and if your problems with erection are much more serious than anxiety or stress don't get upset, as there are lots of options for treatment of erectile dysfunction for you as well!

Medical Treatment

Medical treatments of erectile dysfunction are most widely used among men who suffer from it, just Viagra alone has become so popular, that every person knows about it and how it works. Viagra is one of the fastest working erectile dysfunction drugs, which works in 30 minutes after you take the pill, as it is rapidly absorbed. According to statistics, Viagra has proved to be effective in 75% of ED cases. Depending on the causes of erectile dysfunction, Viagra works perfectly for those, suffering from erectile dysfunction caused by spinal cord injuries (successful in 83%), diabetes (in 57%) and radical prostatectomy (in 43% of cases).

Other oral medications, similar to Viagra are Levitra, Cialis, Yohimbine and other. These selective enzyme inhibitors are taken orally and have slightly different effect in terms of length and strength of their action. These oral medication are available by prescription only, therefore, it's better to consult your doctor about the best one suitable for you and about the working dose, that you should take. Most of the enzyme inhibitors work by relaxing the smooth muscles of penis, thus allowing easier flow of blood into the corpora cavernosa.

Side Effects

Oral medications have some side effects that may occur. Side effects caused by selective enzyme inhibitors can include flushing, headache, indigestion, muscle and back aches. Such side effects usually go away within a few hours, but can stay for as long as two days.

Self-Injection

Other popular non-surgical treatment of erectile dysfunction is self-injection. Using this way of ED treatment you will need to make short-needle injections into corpora cavernosum of your penis. This procedure will give you an erection, which you will be able to maintain for several hours. Prostaglandin and phentolamine are most commonly used for self-injections and cause the same effects as Viagra, by relaxing the smooth muscles and causing vascular dilation. Self-injections are very popular, as many men claim that they give very natural erections, which add more sensitive feelings to sexual intercourse. According to tests, self-injections are successful in 80% of cases, when used properly.

Vacuum Devices

Another popular way of erectile dysfunction treatment is usage of Vacuum devices. Vacuum pumps are plastic devices, which are operated manually to achieve an erection, which is then maintained using a special rubber ring. A plastic tube of vacuum pump, where a penis is inserted, creates a vacuum, thus causing blood flow to the penis, creating an erection. A soft rubber ring can be placed on the penis for up to 30 minutes in order to keep an erection and prevent blood from flowing out of penis. Such devices are easily used at home.

Surgery

In severe cases of erectile dysfunction, it is advised to consider surgery as a way of treatment of erection problems. Surgical procedures involve placing of implants in penis body, which are safe enough and will help have an erection. There are different options for surgical implants. Consult your doctor about the options you have, if you require a surgery to treat erectile dysfunction.

Erectile Dysfunction Vacuum Pumps

Vacuum pumps are devices, which are appropriate for erectile dysfunction treatment in men older than 30 years of age. This simple device solves a very serious problem of men, which suffer from erectile dysfunction problems. Inability to have a healthy sexual life affects both partners, and thus when you get back to normal sexual functioning with a vacuum pump, you will be able to renew the relationships.

Vacuum pumps, like other treatments of erectile dysfunction, do not solve the problems with orgasm and ejaculation or with of lack of desire for sex. But this device will easily repair your ability to get and keep an erection long enough and strong enough to please yourself and your partner.

Vacuum therapy devices (also called penis pumps) are useful and helpful in cases, when drugs, like Viagra do not work, and there is no need to make a surgery. Vacuum pump is used in combination with vacuum constriction device, while pump is used to make an erection; the constriction device is used to maintain it. Vacuum devices are used for treatment of different forms of erectile dysfunction(such as being unable to receive an erection, inconsistent ability to get an erection, or ability to only have short-term erections) at any age, which can be caused by different causes (such as drugs side effects, diseases or injuries).

Vacuum pumps are widely used by men, suffering from erectile dysfunction, and are considered a very safe and highly successful in terms of giving satisfaction to both partners. It is especially widely used among patients, who have undergone a prostatic surgery, and who have severe forms of erectile dysfunction (determined by inability to have nocturnal erections).

Vacuum pumps are approved by the American Food and Drug Administration and consist of thee elements. The first element is a plastic cylinder, where a penis is placed. The second element is a pump itself, which draws out air of the cylinder, creating vacuum. The vacuum then causes blood flow to the penis, which then naturally expands, like it would during a normal erection. A constriction ring is the third element, and is usually made of soft rubber material or silicon and is put on the penis, causing no discomfort.

Usually, when ordering vacuum pump device, you will receive a number of constriction rings and will be able to find the one, which exactly fits your size. When a constriction ring is placed on the base of a penis, the penis is taken out of the plastic cylinder. The constriction ring prevents blood outflow from the penis and is removed after sexual intercourse. The rubber ring in general should not be placed on penis for longer than half an hour, in order not to cause damage to penis veins and arteries. Condoms can be used in combination with a constriction ring, as the ring gives no damage to the penis and does not give any discomfort during sexual intercourse.

Vacuum pumps are usually operated manually and work by creating a vacuum around penis, causing blood flow and giving an erection. The erectile vacuum pumps are absolutely safe and have no contradictions for their use. None of the erectile dysfunction drugs is as effective, as the vacuum pump device, as pills, injections and other ED treatments usually give only up to 70% of successful cases, while with vacuum pump devices you are 100% guaranteed to get an erection. Another advantage of using vacuum pump devices is that when using it for a long period of time, you will be able to increase the size of penis, both girth and length, as the penis gets gradually stretched by the vacuum and over-pumped with blood.

The vacuum pump devices are rather expensive, but you should remember that this is a one-time expense, which will ensure you have a healthy sexual life for many-many years.

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