Over 18 million adult men* in the United States have erectile dysfunction. In fact, at least 50 percent of men over the age of 50 experience some loss of function. Despite being a common male condition, it is not normal, no matter how old you are.
An ultrasound to examine the blood vessels in the penis and blood flowNocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) test to evaluate the quality of your nocturnal erectionsAn injection test during which medication is injected into your penis to stimulate an erection so that your doctor can see how long it lastsUrine tests to check for diabetes or other underlying health conditions
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At first glance, much of the above might seem like involuntary bodily movements, and a lot of the time, they are. But for people experiencing erectile dysfunction, these processes often aren't functioning properly.
1 Contract the pelvic muscle (the one you use to stop urinating) and hold the muscle for 3-5 seconds.
This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject.
NO is one of the key molecules involved in getting an erection. It works by dilating (widening) blood vessels in the penis, allowing more blood to flow into it, which is how an erection takes place. Anything that disrupts its production is bad news for strong erections.
Men with diabetes, radical prostatectomy, and other complicating factors may still benefit from treatment with a phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitor such as Viagra. Patients who fail a trial of PDE5 inhibitor should be informed of the benefits and risks of other therapies. This of a different PDE5 inhibitor is unlikely to have a profound effect on sexual function and someone who fails a first drug trial, but should be considered in selected cases. Second-line therapies include intra-urethral suppositories, intra-cavernous drug injection, vacuum-constriction devices, and penile prosthesis. Medicated Urethral System for Erection (MUSE). MUSE is an intra-urethral suppository of alprostadil, of vaso-active drug that relaxes smooth muscle in the penis and induces penile erection. Although not as effective as intra-cavernosal penile injection, MUSE is a less invasive treatment option. An initial trial dose of intra-urethral alprostadil should be administered under healthcare provider supervision due to the risk of fainting. The cost of intra-urethral suppositories is high with respect to the overall success and therefore should be used judiciously.
Hormone treatment is commonly given for prostate cancer. Men given androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) are at a high risk for sexual problems, including loss of sexual desire and erectile dysfunction. Erections may or may not recover when ADT is stopped. Erectile dysfunction drugs do not usually work in these cases because they don't help with the loss of sexual desire.
The sexual health of a person is as important as their mental and physical health. But often, it gets ignored, because there is a certain form of stigma attached to sexual health conditions. This even stops people from seeking timely treatment, if at all. Dr Gautam Banga, consultant and andrologist at the Sunrise Hospital New Delhi, says in India, Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is a taboo, because people don’t see it as a medical disorder but as sexual incompetence. “It does not happen because the man is not interested in or is incapable of having sex, but there are medical reasons like diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and ischemic heart disease (IHD), depression etc., that leads to ED,” he tells indianexpress.com.
Physicians make a diagnosis of erectile dysfunction in men who complain of troubles having a hard enough erection or a hard erection that does not last long enough. It is important as you talk with your doctor that you be candid in terms of when your troubles started, how bothersome your erectile dysfunction is, how severe it is, and discuss all your medical conditions along with all prescribed and nonprescribed medications that you are taking. Your doctor will ask several questions to determine if your symptoms are suggestive of erectile dysfunction and to assess its severity and possible causes. Your doctor will try to get information to answer the following questions:
In sum, ED is a troubling condition that may be a sign of serious underlying health problems. It is appropriate to discuss ED with your physician. A variety of management options exist; men and their partners may decide which if any of these are appropriate for their specific circumstances.
Learn More About Diagnosing Erectile Dysfunction: Tests and Screenings, Early Diagnosis, and Your Doctors
Your GP will arrange a re-assessment after an initial period of drug usage. If the drugs prove ineffective, there are significant side-effects (seen in 15%) or they cannot be used, other measures may need to be considered. This will entail referral to your local Erectile Dysfunction Clinic where the available treatments include:
Energy wave therapy is a safe and effective treatment. Gentle high frequency, low-intensity sound waves are delivered to the penile tissue through a special treatment wand to stimulate the erectile tissue and improve blood flow in the penis so men can achieve natural, spontaneous erections. The application of energy waves triggers revascularization, a process in which new blood vessels form. The formation of new blood vessels, coupled with the restoration of blood flow in the penis, help restore erectile function in men with ED.
It is likely to improve ED management and benefit a large number of men, particularly in terms of recognising ED as a sentinel of vascular disease.
You can become more emotionally and physically reserved because you fear you will not be able to have satisfying sexual activity. Even though this behaviour may be a sign of frustration and humiliation, your partner may think that you are losing interest in him or her. This can have a negative impact on their self-esteem and feelings of attractiveness.
Penile prosthesis is the primary form of surgical therapy and is reserved for those men who fail, are intolerant of, or have contraindications to other forms of therapy. Currently, there are several different types of penile prostheses. The simplest is the malleable penile prosthesis, and the most complex is the three-piece inflatable penile prosthesis.