What To Do about Erectile Dysfunction
You may be facing a decision concerning what to do about erectile dysfunction once your doctor announces, you have erectile dysfunction or impotence.
Alternatively, you may have identified yourself as having ED based on the International Erectile Function Test.
You probably are not surprised by the diagnosis for impotence, especially if you have been experiencing the symptoms for some time but have been reluctant to see a doctor about them. Now that you have a diagnosis, you may be wondering, what to do about erectile dysfunction.
First, you should know you are not alone: erectile dysfunction or impotence affects about 5% of men who are 40 and between 15 and 25% of men age 65. For a greater percentage of men, impotence is an occasional occurrence, caused by perhaps a few too many drinks, emotional trauma, or physical exhaustion. When it occurs 50% of the time or more, it is time to take focused action.
Two, regardless of the cause of your erectile dysfunction – whether it is a side effect of radiation treatment, prostatectomy, medication use, or other causes of ED / Impotence – there are numerous lifestyle changes you can adopt and many treatments for ED you can try to regain erectile function. Discovering what to do about erectile dysfunction is not difficult, but it does require you to take action. Here are some guidelines.
What To Do about Erectile Dysfunction: Be Informed
Make an appointment to talk to your doctor about the probable cause(s) of your erectile dysfunction and your current state of prostate health, and establish a plan of action. Read and learn as much as you can about prostate health and impotence. Keep a file as new information about erectile dysfunction is released in the media, and contact your doctor if you have questions.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Erectile Dysfunction
What To Do about Erectile Dysfunction: Make Lifestyle Changes
As you decide what to do about erectile dysfunction, be sure to include lifestyle changes. These choices can have a significant impact on erectile function and prostate health. In fact, there are a wide variety of things you can do every day to help restore, support, and reverse impotence and a healthy prostate. Here are 18 lifestyle changes that answer concerns about what to do about erectile dysfunction.
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Maximize fruit and vegetable servings: Fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of antioxidants, polyphenols, vitamins, minerals, and fiber, which can support and promote prostate and overall health. |
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Eat healthy fats: Healthy fats (omega-3s, monounsaturated) should be the mainstay of a low-fat diet, which promotes sexual and prostate health and reverses impotence. Read more about healthy fats |
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Choose plant protein over animal protein: Plant protein provides all the nutrients and health benefits you need for maximum prostate health and to support sexual function. Read more about plant protein for sexual health |
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Consume green tea: The catechins present in green tea have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can prove helpful in reversing impotence. Read more about green tea for erectile dysfunction |
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Avoid foods and additives that are harmful to prostate health and contribute to impotence: Some foods, supplements, additives and nutrients are especially harmful to the prostate and therefore may impact sexual function. These include but are not limited to meat, calcium, chondroitin, and foods high in sugar. Read more on foods to avoid for sexual health |
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Take supplements selectively: Several supplements can be helpful for supporting and treating erectile dysfunction, including horny goat weed, maca, and tribulus terrestris, but others have the potential to be harmful to prostate and sexual health, contributing to impotence, such as calcium. Before you take any supplement, investigate the pros and cons of the product and make an informed choice. Read more on Top Supplements for Erectile Dysfunction / Impotence |
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Hydrate often: Drinking pure water and staying properly hydrated is essential for maximum blood flow and prostate health. Read more about hydrating for sexual health |
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Achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight is detrimental to overall prostate health and often contributes to impotence. Read more on losing weight and prostate health |
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Exercise regularly. Physical activity improves energy level, self-esteem, and overall health, all of which have a positive impact on sexual function. Exercise should be a part of your daily routine. Read more about exercising for sexual health |
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Manage stress. Stress and erectile dysfunction often go hand-in-hand. Chronic stress can cause impotence as well as weaken the immune system and alter your hormonal balance. Read more about managing stress |
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Maintain hormone balance. Hormone management and hormone balancing play a major role in sexual function, impotence and prostate health |
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Practice good hygiene: Keep your penis and surrounding area clean to reduce the risk of infection. |
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Avoid injury to the perineal area: Activities such as riding a horse or a bicycle may cause injury or restrict blood flow to the perineal area and impact the ability to achieve and maintain an erection. Read more on how injury can cause erectile dysfunction |
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Don’t hold it: Use the bathroom regularly to avoid irritating your urinary tract or possibly causing a urinary tract infection. When you do use the bathroom, do not strain to empty your bladder, as this can cause irritation as well. |
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Avoid alcohol: Although moderate intake of alcohol (1 to 2 drinks daily) may be safe for some men, avoiding alcohol eliminates a factor that can cause impotence. |
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Avoid constipation: To avoid constipation, include high-fiber foods in your diet every day, and drink plenty of water as well to facilitate movement through the intestinal tract. Having constipation can make sexual activity less desirable and contribute to impotence. |
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Reduce caffeine: Coffee, colas, some energy drinks, tea, and chocolate are sources of caffeine and can irritate your prostate, often resulting in impotence. |
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Communicate with your partner: Men who can communicate with their partner about their erectile dysfunction, with help from a counselor if needed, often achieve better results. |
What To Do about Erectile Dysfunction: Review Treatment Options
Learn all you can about your treatment options for impotence and discuss them with your healthcare provider and your partner. The list of treatment options include the following:
- Medications, including sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), and vardenafil (Levitra)
- Pumps and other devices, such as a constriction band
- Intraurethral suppository, which contains alprostadil
- Intracavernous injections, which are made directly into the penis
- Penile implants
- Herbal supplements for ED / Impotence, such as horny goat weed, maca, and others
- Sex therapy counseling
- Surgery for Impotence / ED
See also
Top Supplements for Erectile Dysfunction and Sexual Health
