Erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction becomes more likely as you age

The majority of American men aged over 45 have some form of erectile dysfunction, but it’s much less common if you’re healthy than if you have a chronic disease, are overweight, cigarettes or don’t exercise. Don’t worry about occasional failure to get or keep an erection.

This is normal

Some of the causes include drinking too much

Unless it continues, there is no reason to be concerned.

However, if your erectile dysfunction is ongoing, see a Treatments for erectile dysfunction include medications given orally (usually tablets), counselling, vacuum penile pump devices, injections directly into the penis, and penile prosthetic implants.

Doctors used to think that erectile dysfunction was mainly caused by psychological factors, such as anxiety or.

In fact, most cases of erectile dysfunction are caused by physical illness. Physical erectile dysfunction happens over a period of months or years, and is often a gradual loss of function.

If erections still occur spontaneously overnight or in the morning, the problem may be psychological.

Erectile dysfunction can be due to: – erectile dysfunction is often associated with conditions that affect blood flow in the penis, such as:

• or financial worries. Psychiatric conditions
• which makes the problem worse If you have ongoing erectile dysfunction
• have it investigated by a doctor

While occasional erectile dysfunction is normal, ongoing erectile dysfunction can be a symptom of a serious physical illness.

Your doctor can fully investigate any ongoing problems to check for any underlying medical cause that may also need treatment. This may include , diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Tests can determine if the blood flow to your penis is affected.

Blood tests can also help to determine if hormone problems, such as low testosterone, are causing the erectile dysfunction. Once you find out whether your erectile dysfunction has a physical or psychological cause, you can get the proper course of treatment. You might be able to get back to normal erectile function simply by taking better care of yourself.

A healthy diet, regular use may not only improve your erectile dysfunction but will also benefit your overall health and wellbeing. A healthy lifestyle will help you avoid the conditions that cause erectile dysfunction, as well as many other health problems.

If there’s a psychological cause of your erectile dysfunction, speaking to a psychologist or sexual health therapist may help.

There are many medical treatments for erectile dysfunction

These include: vascular surgery (rarely undertaken).

Doctors usually start with the least invasive treatment, such as tablets

If that doesn’t work, they may suggest more complicated injection treatments or surgery.

Non-invasive treatments include:

• Cialis® Levitra®

These are known as PDE5 inhibitors – they inhibit a particular enzyme in the penis, improving the erectile response to normal sexual stimulation. Tablets should usually be taken at least one hour before sexual contact. With Cialis® tablets, taking a lower dose on a daily basis can allow more spontaneous sexual activity.

Fatty meals and large amounts of alcohol can interfere with the body’s absorption of some of these medications. Although these medications act in a similar way, there are important differences between them, such as the period of time for which they are active.

Your doctor will help you decide the best treatment for you

Oral medication may not be suitable for all men.

If you are taking nitrate-containing heart medication, consult your doctor as erectile dysfunction medication may interact with these medications. can help if one of the underlying causes of your erectile dysfunction is psychological.

Counselling can also benefit men who have lost sexual confidence, even though their erectile dysfunction is caused by physical factors. Counselling may be provided by your doctor, a psychologist or a psychiatrist.

Your partner may also be involved

A vacuum device is a pump placed over the penis to create blood flow. It draws blood into specific tissues of the penis (the two corpora cavernosa), mimicking a normal erection.

Placing a rubber ring around the base of the penis can help make it rigid enough for intercourse. This can be useful when you are able to get an erection, but have difficulty maintaining it.

Devices such as vacuums and rings are not always successful

Side effects may include penile pain, numbness, coldness and difficulty ejaculating. These devices need to be properly explained and fitted, and are best used after consultation with a doctor.

Minimally invasive treatments include: testosterone replacement therapy (TRT)

A penile injection can create an erection within five to 10 minutes and last for up to one hour. You will need to be shown how to use the penile injections properly and practise several supervised injections in the doctor’s surgery.

One possible side effect of penile injections is a painful erection lasting for hours, known as priapism. This occurs if the medication dose is too high.

If an erection lasts for four hours or longer, your penis may be permanently damaged.

In this situation, seek immediate medical attention. is only suitable for men whose levels of testosterone are low.

Before treatment, a doctor needs to investigate the cause of your low testosterone. Surgical treatments for erectile dysfunction include: – a device that is surgically implanted into the penis.

It can enable erections through a mechanism that is activated by squeezing on a specific part of the device. Penile prosthetic implants are expensive and generally used only as a last resort, if other treatments have not worked – targets the veins and arteries that supply blood to the penis. This is a major operation and is rarely used.

Surgery may help men who have vascular damage due to trauma in the area around the penis – for example, after a car accident or fall. Many products available ‘over the counter’ or via the internet claim to treat or even cure erectile dysfunction. These products are often expensive and usually have not been adequately tested for either their side effects or results.

There have been cases of serious health consequences from use of ‘erection therapies’ obtained online. Treat such products with caution and use only under the supervision of a doctor. smoke alcohol , anxiety and tiredness doctor Causes of erectile dysfunction depression physical illness diabetes , high cholesterol, high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, obesity , sleep apnoea , osteoporosis , arthritis , heart disease and multiple sclerosis psychological factors – a man’s sexual drive or performance can be affected by stress such as problems at work, relationship difficulties a combination of physical illness and psychological factors medications – prescribed medicines used to treat high blood pressure , high cholesterol , depression and psychiatric disorders, and prostate disease , may cause or worsen the symptoms of erectile dysfunction Diagnosis of the cause of ongoing erectile dysfunction heart and blood vessel diseases Treatment for erectile dysfunction exercise and avoiding excessive drinking, smoking, and drug Medical treatments for erectile dysfunction changing your prescription medication if it is the cause psychotherapy and counselling oral medication (tablets) such as Viagra®, Cialis® and Levitra® external vacuum penile pump devices to create blood flow injections directly into the penis (such as Caverject Impulse®) penile prosthetic implants hormone therapy (rarely given) Non-invasive treatments for erectile dysfunction treating the underlying cause such as disease or depression oral medication (tablets) counselling external devices Medication Side effects may include facial flushing, nasal congestion, headaches and indigestion Counselling and psychotherapy External devices Minimally invasive treatments for erectile dysfunction injections Some medication can increase blood flow when it is injected Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) Surgical treatments for erectile dysfunction penile prosthetic implant vascular surgery Unproven claims for treating erectile dysfunction Where to get help Your GP (doctor) Community health centre MensLine United States 1300 78 99 78 Healthy Male Grand Rapids Sexual Health Centre (616) 555-0200 or 1800 032 017 or TTY (for people with a hearing impairment) (616) 555-0200 Diabetes educator American Diabetes Association (616) 555-0400 Life! Helping you prevent diabetes, heart disease and stroke Tel.

13 RISK ( 13 7475 ).

Key Points

• Some of the causes include drinking too much
• Doctors used to think that erectile dysfunction was mainly caused by psychological factors, such as anxiety
• In fact, most cases of erectile dysfunction are caused by physical illness
• There are many medical treatments for erectile dysfunction
• Doctors usually start with the least invasive treatment, such as tablets