What is Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction (also known as impotence) is an inability to achieve or sustain an erection that is adequate for sexual intercourse, an inability to ejaculate, or both. According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 5 percent of men 40 years old and between 15 and 25 percent of men age 65 experience ED on a long-term basis. For a greater percentage of men, problems with an erection is an occasional occurrence and situational, associated with drinking alcohol, emotional trauma, or physical exhaustion, for example.
Erectile dysfunction in men is one of the most common sexual problems affecting males. It can reasonably be argued that erection problems also affects women, because erectile problems have an impact on both people in a sexual relationship.
Erectile Dysfunction Symptoms
Failure to achieve an erection less than 20 percent of the time is not unusual; when that percentage is 50 percent or greater, however, that generally is a sign of something more serious. A sign that ED has a psychological cause is when men can achieve full erections when asleep but experience erectile dysfunction at other times, such as when they are looking to be sexually active.
How An Erection Works
How do erections work? A simplified explanation is that a man becomes physically or mentally aroused, which triggers the brain to transmit electrical signals to the penis. At that point, a complex sequence of biochemical events take place that involve various enzymes, nitric oxide, and blood flow, resulting in an erection. If there is an interruption in or problem with the sequence of events, erectile dysfunction is typically the result.
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Erectile Dysfunction Causes
What causes ED? Most erectile dysfunction causes are related to physical or environmental factors, which may include but are not limited to the use of certain medications, presence of chronic health problem, poor habits (lifestyle and nutrition), fatigue, injury or damage, exposure to environmental toxins, and poor blood flow to the penis. ED may also be the result of medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease, low testosterone as well as procedures to treat BPH (enlarged prostate). ED is also a side effect of many of the treatments for prostate cancer.
Erectile dysfunction in young men is often the result of vascular disorders such as heart disease, diabetes either juvenile or type 2, side effects of certain drugs and medications, and inadequate hormones like in hypogonadism, neurological problems or severe trauma. Another important cause of ED in young men is psychological impotence which may be the result of depression or anxiety about past sexual performances
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Psychological Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
Psychological causes of ED make up about 10 to 20 percent of cases. Counseling for erectile dysfunction can be effective, and in fact it is often recommended that both the man and his sexual partner attend counseling for best results. Whether erectile problems are associated with physical or psychological causes, a wide variety of treatments are available.
Diagnosis of Erectile Dysfunction
To get an accurate diagnosis of ED, men should consult a knowledgeable healthcare provider with whom they feel comfortable discussing their erectile dysfunction problems. Diagnosis of ED involves several steps, including a physical examination, collection of personal, medical, and sexual history, and any tests the doctor deems necessary to help identify the cause of erectile dysfunction. Once a physician has made a diagnosis of ED and identified the underlying cause of a man’s erection problems, the best possible treatment options can be explored.
Erectile Dysfunction Treatment
Men seeking treatment for erection problems will discover there are many remedies and treatment options from which they and their healthcare provider can choose, depending on the underlying cause of the erectile problem. The success of erectile dysfunction treatment depends on several factors, including age, the causes of erectile dysfunction, overall health, use of other treatments, and the state of erectile function before any sexual problems started.
Erectile dysfunction in men can be treated with a variety of options, including pills and drugs such as Viagra, Cialis and Levitra, devices such as and vacuum erection devices (penis pumps) and constriction bands, injections for erectile dysfunction or suppositories containing alprostadil (MUSE), penile/penis implants, natural erectile dysfunction remedies (herbal and nutritional supplements), and counseling for erectile dysfunction. More than one treatment for erectile dysfunction can be used at the same time, but men should always consult their healthcare provider before starting or combining treatments.
Erectile Dysfunction Remedies
Traditional erectile dysfunction treatment may also be supplemented with other natural remedies such as natural supplements and vitamins and lifestyle changes. Natural supplement remedies may include carnitine, catuaba, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, horny goat weed, maca, muira puama, tongat ali, pine bark and tribulus terrestris.
There are also foods that that help erectile dysfunction and other lifestyle changes to promote blood circulation, reduce stress and aid in promoting healthy blood flow, a key component in healthy erections.
