What are the major causes,
symptoms and treatment options for Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is also commonly
known as ED or impotence. It is a disorder that increases
with age and does not has anything to do with sexually
transmitted diseases. It can be referred to as the inability
to achieve and maintain a quality erection for a fulfilling
intercourse. In some cases, a man may be able to achieve
erection and penetrate but lose his erection as coitus
and climax are reached. The erection must be stiff enough
to be able to penetrate the mouth or vagina. If this
is not the case, it means the man has erectile dysfunction.
Erections that are too brief and do not last till the
end of intercourse may result from lack of coordination
of emotions, blood circulation and parts of nervous
system.
According to researches, erectile dysfunction affects
less than 5% of men who are sexually active in their
forties and severely affects men in their seventies
and past sixties. If it occurs in young men, there may
be some other psychological or physical causes behind
it. Also, sometimes Erectile Dysfunction is organic
and represents a sign of serious disease. Sometimes
it is depends on emotional state and requires a new
look at your relationship.
Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
There may be a number of causes due to which men experience
erectile dysfunction. Different individuals may have
this problem due to any one or more than reasons listed
below:
Emotional reasons
Often it happens that your past becomes a part of your
present and tries to overcome relationships. A simple
gesture or act may take you back into the past and a
sense of nostalgia may turn you off without any apparent
reason. It may also be due to lack of communication
between partners.
Drugs
Alcohol, tobacco and other addictives play a major role
in affecting the sexual abilities of a man.
Vascular diseases
Hardening of arteries also known as Atherosclerosis
is the common disease which can cause heart stroke and
attacks. In turn it affects the flow of blood to penis
resulting in erectile dysfunction.
Nerve diseases
Diabetes, surgery on the prostate and lower bowel and
spinal cord injury and disease can sometimes cause Erectile
Dysfunction. Brain disorders can also cause impotence.
Hormones
Male sex hormones called testosterone can lead to Erectile
Dysfunction as a result of endocrine disorder or liver
diseases.
Diseases or injury affecting the sex organ
Peyronie's disease and priapism are the diseases most
often associated with ED. Peyronie's disease is a condition
of unknown cause that scars the penis and bends it.
Priapism is the name for an erection that won't go away.
It can damage your penis permanently and is sometimes
the result of injection treatments for impotence.
Erectile Dysfunction Symptoms
Some symptoms for ED include:
- Inability to achieve an erection.
- Inability to maintain an erection throughout intercourse.
- The inability to penetrate and losing an erection
at some point during sex.
- Lack of satisfaction during sex.
- Having an erection during sleep or at times when
you are not sexually stimulated.
Treatment options for erectile dysfunction
There are several options available to the man suffering
from ED. Speak with your physician as to the approach
best suited to you.
Viagra Drug
It is the most effective and commonly used drug. Given
30 to 60 minutes prior to sexual activity, Viagra permits
the vascular caverns of the penis to relax, widen and
dilate with blood. This hardening compresses the veins
at the base of the penis and thereby prevents efflux
of blood from the penis leading to erection. Successful
erection with Viagra requires sexual stimulation.
The effect of the medication varies from one man to
the next but lasts for up to 4 hours. The effects of
the medication may be slowed if taken with a large meal
and alcohol. Side effects may occur but are rarely troubling.
The evaluation by your doctor before starting Viagra
is important to ensure that your heart is able to handle
the extra stress imposed by sexual relations.
Devices
You can also try a tiny pellet of medicine that you
can insert into your penis before intercourse. It works
the same way as medications and injections. Also, some
mechanical devices can create erections using a vacuum
pump to suck blood into the penis and a rubber band
around the base of the penis to hold the blood there.
Other medications that are used for treating erectile
dysfunction includes:
- Yohimbine
- Trazodone Phentolamine
Direct agents such as Alprostadil are used as an injection
into the penis or as a suppository (intra-urethral).
It’s also called "medicated urethral system
for erection" or MUSE and causes direct relaxation
of the vessels and may provoke erection in the absence
of sexual stimulation. However, sometimes these medicines
may cause side effects and are given in combination
with each other.
Viagra is the only medicine prescribed most of the
time to treat ED. Erectile Dysfunction can be treated
if it is diagnosed on time and proper treatment is given.
Back to Articles
|
