Erectile Dysfunction

What is Erectile Dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction (impotence) is the inability to get and keep an erection firm enough for sex.

Symptoms

Erectile dysfunction symptoms might include persistent:

  • Trouble Getting An Erection
  • Trouble Keeping An Erection
  • Reduced Sexual Desire
How Erections Work ?

During sexual arousal, nerves release chemicals that increase blood flow into the penis. Blood flows into two erection chambers in the penis, made of spongy muscle tissue (the corpus cavernosum). The corpus cavernosum chambers are not hollow.

During erection, the spongy tissues relax and trap blood. The blood pressure in the chambers makes the penis firm, causing an erection. When a man has an orgasm, a second set of nerve signals reach the penis and cause the muscular tissues in the penis to contract and blood is released back into a man's circulation and the erection comes down.

What Causes Erectile Dysfunction?

Male sexual arousal is a complex process that involves the brain, hormones, emotions, nerves, muscles and blood vessels. Erectile dysfunction can result from a problem with any of these. Likewise, stress and mental health concerns can cause or worsen erectile dysfunction.

Sometimes a combination of physical and psychological issues causes erectile dysfunction. For instance, a minor physical condition that slows your sexual response might cause anxiety about maintaining an erection. The resulting anxiety can lead to or worsen erectile dysfunction.

Physical causes of erectile dysfunction

In many cases, erectile dysfunction is caused by something physical. Common causes include:

  • Heart disease
  • Clogged blood vessels (atherosclerosis)
  • High cholesterol
  • High blood pressure
  • Diabetes
  • Obesity
  • Metabolic syndrome
  • Parkinson's disease
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Certain medications
  • Tobacco
  • Peyronie's disease — development of scar tissue inside the penis
  • Alcoholism and other
  • Sleep disorders
  • Treatments for prostate cancer or enlarged prostate
  • Surgeries or injuries that affect the pelvic area or spinal cord
Psychological causes of erectile dysfunction

The brain plays a key role in triggering the series of physical events that cause an erection, starting with feelings of sexual excitement. A number of things can interfere with sexual feelings and cause or worsen erectile dysfunction. These include:

  • Depression, Anxiety Or Other Mental Health Conditions
  • Stress
  • Relationship Problems Due To Stress, Poor Communication Or Other Concerns
prevention for erectile dysfunction
  • Work With Your Doctor To Manage Diabetes, Heart Disease Or Other Chronic Health Conditions.
  • See Your Doctor For Regular Checkups
  • Stop Smoking,
  • Avoid Alcohol, And Other Drugs.
  • Exercise Regularly.
  • Take Steps To Reduce Stress.
Erectile Dysfunction Diagnosed

For many people, a physical exam and answering questions (medical history) are all that's needed for a doctor to diagnose erectile dysfunction and recommend a treatment. If you have chronic health conditions or your doctor suspects that an underlying condition might be involved, you might need further tests or a consultation with a specialist.

Tests for underlying conditions might include:

Physical Examination

A physical exam checks your total health. Examination focusing on your genitals (penis and testicles) is often done to check for ED. Based on your age and risk factors, the exam may also focus on your heart and blood system: heart, peripheral pulses and blood pressure. Based on your age and family history your doctor may do a rectal exam to check the prostate.

Blood Tests

A sample of your blood might be sent to a lab to check for signs of heart disease, diabetes, low testosterone levels and other health conditions.

Urine tests

Like blood tests, urine tests are used to look for signs of diabetes and other underlying health conditions.

Penile Doppler study

Check blood flow blood flow problems.

Psychological Exam

Your doctor might ask questions to screen for depression and other possible psychological causes of erectile dysfunction.

Other Tests

depend on condition

ED History
What Questions Will doctor Ask?
  • Do you smoke?
  • How much alcohol do you drink?
  • Do you have any urinary problems?
  • Do you wake up in the morning or during the night with an erection?
  • Do you have problems with ejaculation or orgasm ?
  • Do you have any anxiety, depression or other mental health issues?
  • How is your relationship with your partner?
  • Do you have other health problems ?
Suggestion About Erectile Dysfunction

The first thing your doctor will do is to make sure you're getting the right treatment for any health conditions that could be causing or worsening your erectile dysfunction.

Depending on the cause and severity of your erectile dysfunction and any underlying health conditions, you might have various treatment options. Your doctor can explain the risks and benefits of each treatment and will consider your preferences.

Psychological Counseling

If your erectile dysfunction is caused by stress, anxiety or depression — or the condition is creating stress and relationship tension — your doctor might suggest that you, or you and your partner, visit counselor

Lifestyle Change In Erectile Dysfunction

For many men, erectile dysfunction is caused or worsened by lifestyle choices. Here are some steps that might help:

  • If You Smoke, Quit. If You Have Trouble Quitting, Get Help
  • Lose Excess Pounds. Being Overweight Can Cause — Or Worsen — Erectile Dysfunction.
  • Include Physical Activity In Your Daily Routine. Exercise Can Help With Underlying Conditions That Play A Part In Erectile Dysfunction In A Number Of Ways, Including Reducing Stress, Helping You Lose Weight And Increasing Blood Flow.
  • STOP Alcohol Drinking Too Much Causing Long-Term Health Problems.
  • Work Through Relationship Issues. Consider Couples Counseling If You're Having Trouble Improving Communication With Your Partner Or Working Through Problems On Your Own
About Exercise
Recent studies have found that exercise, especially moderate to vigorous aerobic activity, can improve erectile dysfunction

However, benefits might be less in some men, including those with established heart disease or other significant medical conditions.

Even less strenuous, regular exercise might reduce the risk of erectile dysfunction. Increasing your level of activity might also further reduce your risk.

Discuss an exercise plan with your doctor.

Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know my ED is physical and not mental?

It's hard to know. Health providers now realize that most men have an underlying physical cause of ED. For most patients, there are both physical and emotional factors that lead to ED. It is impossible to prove that there is no psychological part to a man's ED.

If I worry about being able to get an erection, can I make a bad condition worse?

Nothing happens in the body without the brain. Worrying about your ability to get an erection can make it difficult to get one. This is called performance anxiety and can be overcome with education and treatment.

What are the post-treatment guidelines?

Some post treatment guidelines include maintaining a healthy diet, leading a healthy lifestyle through exercises and yogas and maintaining a better mental health.

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