Description

Erectile dysfunction means not being able to get and keep an erection firm enough to have sexual activity. Also called impotence.

Having erection trouble from time to time is not always a cause for concern. But if erectile dysfunction is continuous, it can cause stress, affect your self-confidence and add to the challenges with a partner. Problems getting or keeping an erection can be a sign of a health condition that needs treatment and a risk factor for heart disease.

If you are concerned about erectile dysfunction, talk to your health care professional, even if it is uncomfortable. Sometimes, treating an underlying condition may correct erectile dysfunction. Or you may need medications or other treatments.

Symptoms

Having trouble getting an erection once in a while is common. Erectile dysfunction symptoms are continuous and often gets worse with time. These could include:

  • Problems getting an erection.
  • Difficulty maintaining an erection.
  • Want sex less.

When to see a doctor

Your primary health care professional is a good place to start when you have erectile problems. Consult your health care professional if you:

  • You worry about your erection, or have other sexual problems such as premature ejaculation, before what you want. This is called ejaculation. Ejaculate later of what you want is called delayed ejaculation.
  • You have diabetes, heart disease or other health problem that might be linked to erectile dysfunction.
  • If you have other symptoms of erectile dysfunction.

Causes

Male sexual arousal is a complex one. Involves the brain, hormones, emotions, nerves, muscles and blood vessels. Erectile dysfunction can be the result of a problem with any of these. Also, stress and mental health problems can cause ed or make it worse.

Sometimes, the cause of erectile dysfunction is both physical and mental. For instance, a minor physical condition that slows your sexual response may cause to worry about keeping an erection. The anxiety can add to erectile dysfunction.

The physical causes of erectile dysfunction

Common physical causes of erectile dysfunction include:

  • Diseases of the heart.
  • Blockage of the blood vessels, also called atherosclerosis.
  • High cholesterol.
  • The high blood pressure.
  • Diabetes.
  • Obesity.
  • The metabolic syndrome, which involves high blood pressure, high insulin levels, body fat around the waist and high cholesterol.
  • Parkinson's disease.
  • Multiple sclerosis.
  • Certain prescription medications
  • The consumption of tobacco.
  • Peyronie's disease, which can cause pain during sexual intercourse, a bent penis curvature of a penis which becomes shorter with the erection, or a lump or lump on the penis.
  • The excessive use of alcohol and use of illicit drugs.
  • The sleep conditions.
  • The treatments for prostate cancer or enlarged prostate.
  • Surgeries or injuries that affect the pelvic area or spinal cord.
  • The low levels of the hormone testosterone.

The Mental health of the causes of erectile dysfunction

The brain plays a key role in getting sexually excited, the beginning of an erection. The things that can get in the way of sexual feelings and cause or add to erectile dysfunction include:

  • Depression, anxiety, or other mental health disorders.
  • Stress.
  • Problems with a partner.

Risk factors

As you get older, the erection may take more time to start and I could not be of the company. You might need more direct touch to your penis to achieve and maintain an erection. But erectile dysfunction is not a typical part of aging.

The risk factors that can be added to erectile dysfunction include:

  • Medical conditions. Diabetes or heart disease, are major risk factors.
  • The consumption of tobacco. This reduces the flow of blood to the veins and arteries. Over time, the consumption of tobacco can cause ongoing health conditions that lead to erectile dysfunction.
  • The overweight. Obesity, especially, can lead to erectile dysfunction.
  • Certain medical treatments. These include prostate surgery or radiation treatment for cancer.
  • Injury. This is especially true if the injury, damage in the nerves or arteries that control erections.
  • Drugs. These include antidepressants, antihistamines and medications to treat high blood pressure, pain or prostate conditions.
  • Mental health conditions. These include stress, anxiety, and depression.
  • Illicit drug and alcohol consumption. This is especially true for long-term drug use or excessive alcohol consumption.

Complications

The complications of erectile dysfunction may include:

  • A poor sex life.
  • Depression, stress or anxiety.
  • Shame or low self-esteem.
  • Relationship problems.
  • Not being able to get your partner pregnant.

Prevention

The best way to prevent erectile dysfunction is to make healthy lifestyle choices and managing health conditions. For example:

  • Work with your health care professional to manage diabetes, heart disease, or other ongoing health conditions.
  • Get regular medical checkups and screening tests.
  • Stop smoking, limit or do not drink alcohol, and does not use illicit drugs.
  • Exercise regularly.
  • Finding ways to relieve stress.
  • Get help for anxiety, depression, or other mental health problems.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of erectile dysfunction consists of a physical exam and answering questions about your medical and sexual history. If you have ongoing health conditions that could be involved, you may need other tests. Or you might need to see a specialist.

Tests for underlying conditions might include:

  • Physical exam. This may involve an examination of your penis and testicles and checking for damage to the nerves.
  • Blood tests. A blood sample is sent to a laboratory can check for signs of heart disease, diabetes, low testosterone levels and other health conditions.
  • The testing of urine, also called a urine analysis. As blood tests, urine analysis may show signs of diabetes and other health conditions.
  • Ultrasound.This test uses sound waves to examine the blood vessels that carry blood to the penis. This involves using a wandlike device called a transducer out through the blood vessels. A video image that can show if you have blood flow problems. Health professionals sometimes do this test after you put an injection in the penis to stimulate blood flow and make an erection.
  • The Mental health examination. Your health care professional may ask questions to screen for depression and other mental problems that can cause erectile dysfunction.

Ultrasound. This test uses sound waves to examine the blood vessels that carry blood to the penis. This involves using a wandlike device called a transducer out through the blood vessels. A video image that can show if you have blood flow problems.

Health professionals sometimes do this test after you put an injection in the penis to stimulate blood flow and make an erection.

Treatment

The treatment for erectile dysfunction depends on the cause of your erectile dysfunction, how bad it is and if you have health problems. You may have several treatment options.

Your health care professional can tell you the pros and cons of each treatment. What you prefer affairs. What your partner wants you can also be part of your treatment options.

Oral medications

Medicines taken by mouth work for many people who have problems with erectile dysfunction. They include:

  • Sildenafil (Revatio, Viagra).
  • Tadalafil (Adcirca, Cialis, and others).
  • Vardenafil.
  • Avanafil (Stendra).

These medications relax the muscles in the penis. Increase blood flow in response to sexual stimulation. These pills alone will not cause an erection. But that can make it easier for you to get an erection during sexual stimulation.

Individuals can get and maintain erections without the aid does not need medicines for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. These medications do not improve the sex for them.

The medications vary in dosage, how long the work and the side effects. Possible side effects include flushing, nasal congestion, headache, visual changes, backache and stomach upset.

These medicines may not work immediately. And do not work for everyone. You may work as well after the surgery of the prostate and for people who have diabetes, and other conditions. Work with your health care professional to find the right medication and dose for you.

Before taking any medication for erectile dysfunction, get your professional of the health well. This includes supplements and herbal remedies that you can get without a prescription.

Some medicines for erectile dysfunction could cause harm to you if:

  • Take nitrate drugs such as nitroglycerin (Nitro-Dur, Nitrostat, others), isosorbide mononitrate (Monoket), and isosorbide dinitrate (Isordil, Bidil). These treat chest pain called angina.
  • Have heart disease or heart failure.
  • Have very low blood pressure called hypotension.

Other medications

Other medications for erectile dysfunction include:

  • Self-injection therapy.Uses a thin needle to put the alprostadil (Caverject, Edex) into the base or side of your penis. The dose of each vaccine is for an erection that lasts no more than an hour. These vaccines may have one or two of the other drugs in the same (BiMix,Tri-Mix). Side effects may include slight bleeding from the injection site and an erection that lasts for a long time, it is called priapism. Rarely, fibrous tissue may form when I give you the shot. A member of the health team shows you how to give yourself the shot. Because it uses a very fine needle, the pain of the injection, with the highest frequency is lower.
  • Intraurethral of the medicine.This involves putting medicine on the inside of your penis into the tube that carries urine from the body, called the urethra. Use a special applicator to put the medicine on the tip of his penis. The medication increases the blood flow to cause an erection. The erection is most often starts in 10 minutes and lasts between 30 and 60 minutes. Side effects may include a burning sensation in the penis and slight bleeding in the urethra.
  • Testosterone replacement. For those who have low levels of the hormone testosterone, testosterone replacement may help with erectile dysfunction. More commonly, it can be used with other treatments for erectile dysfunction.

Self-injection therapy. Uses a thin needle to put the alprostadil (Caverject, Edex) into the base or side of your penis. The dose of each vaccine is for an erection that lasts no more than an hour.

These vaccines may have one or two of the other drugs in the same (BiMix,Tri-Mix). Side effects may include slight bleeding from the injection site and an erection that lasts for a long time, it is called priapism. Rarely, fibrous tissue may form when I give you the shot.

A member of the health team shows you how to give yourself the shot. Because it uses a very fine needle, the pain of the injection, with the highest frequency is lower.

Intraurethral of the medicine. This involves putting medicine on the inside of your penis into the tube that carries urine from the body, called the urethra. Use a special applicator to put the medicine on the tip of his penis. The medication increases the blood flow to cause an erection.

The erection is most often starts in 10 minutes and lasts between 30 and 60 minutes. Side effects may include a burning sensation in the penis and slight bleeding in the urethra.

Penis pumps, surgery and implants

If the medications do not work or are not appropriate for you, your healthcare provider may suggest other treatments. Other treatments include:

  • Penis pumps.A penis pump, also called a vacuum erection device is a plastic tube that fits over the penis. A hand or battery-powered pump is connected to the tube. The pump sucks the air out of the tube. This causes a vacuum that pulls blood into your penis. Once you get an erection, you put a rubber tension ring around the base of your penis. This applies in the blood and helps to maintain the erection. You then remove the vacuum device. The erection more often lasts long enough to have sex. Remove the tension ring after intercourse. Your penis can be bruised, and the band could weaken the ejaculation. Your penis may feel cold to the touch. If a penis pump that works well for you, your health care professional may suggest or prescribe a specific model. That way you can be sure that it is correct for you, and manufactured by a company that you can trust.
  • Penile implants.This treatment involves surgery to place an implant in the penis. You can inflate some of these devices, which allows you to control when and how much time you have an erection. A semi-rigid rod keeps your penis firm. But you can double the distance of the body for the sex and to the body when you don't want to show. Health professionals often do not suggest that penile implants until you have tried other treatments for erectile dysfunction in the first place. People who have tried other therapies without success tend to be happy with their implants. As with any surgery, there is a risk of complications, such as infection. Your health care professional may delay the surgery if you have a urinary tract or other infection.

Penis pumps. A penis pump, also called a vacuum erection device is a plastic tube that fits over the penis. A hand or battery-powered pump is connected to the tube. The pump sucks the air out of the tube. This causes a vacuum that pulls blood into your penis.

Once you get an erection, you put a rubber tension ring around the base of your penis. This applies in the blood and helps to maintain the erection. You then remove the vacuum device.

The erection more often lasts long enough to have sex. Remove the tension ring after intercourse. Your penis can be bruised, and the band could weaken the ejaculation. Your penis may feel cold to the touch.

If a penis pump that works well for you, your health care professional may suggest or prescribe a specific model. That way you can be sure that it is correct for you, and manufactured by a company that you can trust.

Penile implants. This treatment involves surgery to place an implant in the penis. You can inflate some of these devices, which allows you to control when and how much time you have an erection. A semi-rigid rod keeps your penis firm. But you can double the distance of the body for the sex and to the body when you don't want to show.

Health professionals often do not suggest that penile implants until you have tried other treatments for erectile dysfunction in the first place. People who have tried other therapies without success tend to be happy with their implants.

As with any surgery, there is a risk of complications, such as infection. Your health care professional may delay the surgery if you have a urinary tract or other infection.

Advice

Perhaps the stress, anxiety, or depression because of their erectile dysfunction or condition that causes the stress and problems with your partner. Then your health care professional may suggest that you, or you and your partner, to see a counselor.

Lifestyle and home remedies

For many people, the lifestyle choices cause erectile dysfunction or worsen. Here are some tips that might help:

  • If you smoke, stop smoking. If you have problems to stop smoking, get help. Try nicotine replacement, such as over-the-counter gum or lozenges. Or ask your health care provider about a prescription medicine that can help you stop smoking.
  • Losing the excess weight. Being overweight can cause ed or make it worse.
  • Be more physically active. Exercise can help with underlying conditions that play a role in erectile dysfunction, relieving stress, helping you lose weight and increasing blood flow.
  • Treatment for alcoholism or excessive use of drugs. Drinking too much or the use of certain illicit drugs can make erectile dysfunction worse. And excessive use can cause long-term health problems that make erectile dysfunction worse.
  • Work through problems with your partner. Think about the couples counseling to help work through problems with your partner.

Alternative medicine

Before using any supplement, consult your health professional to make sure that it is safe for you, especially if you have ongoing health conditions. Some alternative products that claim to work for erectile dysfunction may cause damage.

The Food and Drug Administration has issued warnings about some types of "herbal viagra" because it can have harmful ingredients not listed on the package. You may not know the dose. Or they may have been contaminated while being made.

Some of these supplements may interact with prescription medications and cause very low blood pressure. These products are a danger to any person who takes nitrates.

Coping and support

No matter what causes erectile dysfunction, it can be a source of stress for you and your partner. Here are some steps you can take:

  • Do not assume that the problem will last. It is common to have erection problems at times. Thinking that you are going to have it again or that it is a sign that something is wrong with you, can cause stress. Stress can make erectile dysfunction worse.
  • Involve your sexual partner. Your partner might think that not being able to have an erection is a sign that you have less sexual desire. Assure your partner that this is not true. Talk openly about your condition. The treatment may work best for you when you involve your partner.
  • Don't ignore the stress, anxiety, or other mental health problems. Talk with your health care professional or a mental health professional to deal with these problems.

Preparing for your appointment

It is likely to start by seeing your primary health care provider. Your healthcare provider may send you to a specialist. This could be a doctor who specializes in male genital problems, which is called a urologist or a physician who specializes in hormonal systems, called an endocrinologist.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

Take your partner with you, if you can. Your partner can help to inform your healthcare professional of the health and remember the information that is obtained.

Make a list of:

  • Your symptoms, including any that may not seem linked to erectile dysfunction, and when they began.
  • Key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
  • All the drugs, vitamins, herbal remedies and supplements that you are taking, including the dosage.
  • Questions to ask your health care team.

For erectile dysfunction, some questions are:

  • What is the most likely cause of my erection problems?
  • What are other possible causes?
  • What tests do I need?
  • Is my erectile dysfunction more likely to disappear or to the last?
  • What are the treatments and what do you suggest?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material I can have? What websites do you suggest?

Be sure to ask all the questions that you have.

What to expect from your doctor

Your healthcare provider is likely to ask questions, such as:

  • What other health concerns or the current conditions do you have?
  • Make your erection problems happen sometimes, often or all the time?
  • Do you want sex less than before?
  • You get erections during masturbation, with a partner or while you sleep?
  • Does your partner have sexual problems?
  • You're anxious, depressed or under stress?
  • Do you drink alcohol? If so, how much?
  • Do you use illicit drugs?
  • What seems to help with erectile dysfunction?
  • What seems to make your erectile dysfunction worse?
Symptoms and treatment of Erectile dysfunction