According to the National Institutes of Health, about 30 million men suffer from erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction (ED) occurs when a man has persistent problems achieving and/or maintaining an erection. Erectile dysfunction can make sexual intercourse impossible without treatment. According to the Massachusetts Male Aging Study on Sexual Dysfunction, erectile dysfunction can occur in men as early as their 40s.
Does erectile dysfunction mean low libido?
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Erectile dysfunction refers to problems achieving or maintaining an erection. Other forms of male sexual dysfunction include low libido and ejaculation problems. Men with erectile dysfunction often have a healthy sex drive, but their body is unable to produce an erection during intercourse. The problem is usually physical.
Symptoms of erectile dysfunction
In erectile dysfunction, a man is unable to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse. The penis is not hard enough and/or does not erect quickly enough. Problems persist for at least six months and occur in more than two-thirds of cases.
Signs pointing to physical causes:
- Erectile dysfunction develops gradually
- It occurs both during sexual intercourse with a partner and during masturbation
- Failure to achieve a normal erection during sleep, which is present in any healthy man
- Erectile dysfunction occurs suddenly, perhaps after stressful life events
- Erectile dysfunction usually occurs only in certain situations the man is under 50 years of age
Diagnosis: how to identify erectile dysfunction?
The first step is usually to consult a general practitioner. If necessary, she may refer you to an appropriate specialist surgery – usually a urology surgery. Depending on the cause, specialists in other fields such as neurology, psychotherapy, psychology, andrology (men’s medicine) or sex therapy are needed.
Interview: Initially, the doctor will get an accurate picture of the disorder by asking specific questions. Standard questionnaires help to capture the exact symptoms. It is also important to find out if there have been any operations, or if there are any diseases that could possibly cause erectile dysfunction, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and intervertebral disc problems. Sometimes potency problems are also a side effect of the medicine. Therefore, a record is kept of what medicines the patient is taking. The doctor also asks whether spontaneous erections are observed at night or in the morning. Every healthy man experiences erections during certain phases of sleep. If they fail, an organic cause is more likely. It may be helpful if the partner is included in the medical discussion.
Physical examination: This is followed by a physical examination focusing on the genitals and prostate. As many erectile dysfunctions can be explained by circulatory problems, the pulses of the blood vessels in the arms and legs are also checked, as well as blood pressure.
Who gets erectile dysfunction?
Sexual dysfunction becomes more common with age. According to the Massachusetts Male Ageing Study, around 40% of men experience some degree of inability to achieve or maintain an erection by the age of 40, and 70% by the age of 70. The percentage of men with erectile dysfunction increases from 5% to 15% as age increases from 40 to 70 years. Erectile dysfunction can be treated at any age.
Mechanisms of erectile dysfunction
An erection occurs when blood fills the two chambers of the penis (called the corpora cavernosa). The penis expands and stiffens, like a balloon filled with water. This process is triggered by nerve impulses from the brain and genital area. Anything that interferes with these impulses or restricts blood flow to the penis can cause erectile dysfunction.
Diseases that can cause erectile dysfunction
The link between chronic diseases and erectile dysfunction is particularly pronounced in diabetes. Around half of men with diabetes suffer from erectile dysfunction. However, good blood sugar control can reduce this risk.
In addition, the following four diseases can cause erectile dysfunction by interfering with blood flow or nerve impulses in the body.
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
- Kidney disease
- Multiple sclerosis
Treatment of erectile dysfunction: oral medications
Although Viagra has gained popularity in the media, it is not the only treatment for erectile dysfunction. One of the biggest trends in the US currently is a medication called Bluechew. It’s a chewable tablet with the same active ingredients that Viagra or Cialis have. Other erectile dysfunction drugs:
- Kamagra
• Cialis
• Levitra
These drugs work by improving blood flow to the penis during arousal and are taken 30-60 minutes before intercourse. They should not be taken more than once a day. According to Ajanta Pharma, Kamagra contains 100 mg of sildenafil citrate. Sildenafil is a medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction and you should usually consult your doctor and get a prescription to make sure it is safe to take. Taking prescription-only medication without first consulting your doctor can put your health at risk and is unnecessary when there are readily available safe and legal options.
Initially, the drug was only available as a tablet with the active ingredient sildenafil, but since then new versions of the drug have been developed called Super Kamagra and Kamagra Jelly Oil, which contain different ingredients.
Reducing the risk of erectile dysfunction
To reduce your risk of erectile dysfunction, exercise and maintain a healthy weight, stop smoking, avoid alcohol and drug abuse, and control diabetes if you have it.
