Erectile dysfunction is a very common sexual problem, and it impacts roundabout 30 million men worldwide. Today, we’ll discuss what is erectile dysfunction; its symptoms, causes, and treatment.
What is Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction is the incapability of a person to achieve and sustain an erection for sexual intercourse. According to an estimate, approximately 1 in every 10 men experiences this condition in the long term. Often, some other underlying problem causes the ED. The condition has never been normal at any age, and it has links with other problems that disturb your sexual intercourse like ejaculation problems and limited desire.
ED can occur because of the following reasons;
- Limited blood flow in the penis or the damaged nerves
- Emotional reasons or stress
- Early warnings symptoms of some type of serious health issues like higher blood sugar from diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, blocked arteries, or hardening (atherosclerosis)
If you diagnose the exact cause of ED, it would help you to improve your overall health and well-being.
Symptoms of Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction makes it difficult for a person to keep it sustained erection during sexual intercourse. When it becomes a troubling routine problem, then your Urologist or doctor would offer you the best advice. Studies have shown that ED suggests that your health is at the risk of circulatory problems in the legs or heart attack.
Some of the main symptoms of ED are as follows;
- Lower sexual desire
- Difficult to sustain an erection
- Trouble achieving erection
If ED is impacting your health and relationship, then you shouldn’t waste time treating it. The focus of the treatment is to improve erection and overall quality of life with better circulatory health.
Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
Some of the main causes and the risk factors of erectile dysfunction are as follows;
- Limited exercise
- Obesity
- Overconsumption of alcohol and drugs
- Smocking
- Higher cholesterol level
- Cardiovascular disease
- Higher blood pressure
- Diabetes or higher blood sugar level
- Above 50 years old
Physical Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
- Side Effects of Drugs: some healthcare drugs have side effects in the form of ED, and it is better that you should discuss it with your doctor
- Cancer Treatment: ED can happen by the radiation treatment of cancer in the lower pelvis or abdomen, especially bladder, colon-rectal, and prostate cancer. Patients of cancer survivors should discuss their sexual health with their doctors
- Vessel Disease: damaged nerves of the penis or the vessel disease happen due to the diabetes
- Nerve Signals Issues: a certain type of surgery, injury, or disease in the pelvic area damages the nerve of the penis, and the brain signals don’t get to reach the penis
- Not Trapping Blood: the blood doesn’t stay in the arteries of the penis and causing the erection issues
- Insufficient Blood Flow: many health issues like smoking, diabetes, heart disease, and hardened arteries decrease the blood flow in the penis
Emotional Cause
Some of the relationship and emotional factors that could cause the ED condition, and they’re as follows;
- Worrisome feelings about the sexual performance
- Stress from the religious, cultural, and social conflicts
- Work and household stress
- Conflicting relationships
- Anxiety
- Depression
Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction
The treatment plan of ED starts with improving your cardiovascular health. Your doctor would recommend you change your lifestyle by stopping consuming alcohol and drugs, increasing exercise, stopping smoking, and eating healthier food. You should avoid changing the prescription drugs before discussing them with your doctor.
Some of the main treatment plans for ED are as follows;
Medications
Orally prescribed tablets comprise phosphodiesterase type -5 inhibitors like Stendra, Levitra, Cialis, Viagra, etc. Doctors suggest that the person with ED should take the pill 2 or 3 hours before the sexual intercourse in order to achieve the best result. However, the focus of PDE5 inhibitors is to improve the blood flow ad erectile responses. The response rate is lower among cancer and diabetic patients. Some of the side effects of PDE5 inhibitors are as follows;
- Indigestions
- Muscles aches
- Facial flushing
- Stuffy nose
- Headache
Testosterone Therapy
When ED is causing lower blood levels of the testosterone and lower sex drive in rare cases; then Testosterone therapy along with medications would help the patient to deal with normal erection issues.
Penile Injections like Intracavernosal Alprostadil, ICI
When oral medication isn’t working, then the Alprostadil drug is an approved medicine for men to deal with ED issues. It comes in two forms; IU therapy, and Intracavernosal injections (ICI).
Intraurethral medication
IU comprises a small medicated pellet of a drug, alprostadil. The doctor would put in the urethra (a tube that takes the urine out of your body). It’s a type of drug and a process that you can’t give yourself a shot. However, it is better to test Alprostadil in the office before using it at home. The side effect of IU alprostadil is the burning feeling in the penis if the erection lasts for a few hours.
Vacuum Erection Devices
It comprises a plastic tube and a pump at its end, and it allows you to achieve an erection with the help of vacuum plastic tube pressure. You have to tighten the ring at the base of the penis in order to hold the blood, and it keeps it hard for roundabout 30 minutes.
Penile Implants
Penile implants comprise devices that doctors put into your body through surgery. The harder your penis is in order to have normal sexual intercourse, and it’s the next level of treatment and it comprises risks.
Conclusion: What is Erectile Dysfunction? Symptoms, Causes, Treatment
After an in-depth study of what is erectile dysfunction; its symptoms, causes, and treatment; we’ve realized that ED could be the sign of some other problem. If you’re experiencing its symptoms and causes, then you should discuss it with your healthcare provider.
Ahsan is an accomplished researcher and has a deep insight in worldly life affairs. He goes Live 3 days a week on various social media platforms. Other than research writing, he’s a very interesting person.
