ED (a common abbreviation for erectile dysfunction, also known as male impotence) occurs when the patient’s body does not function properly for some reason, there may be some problem with circulation, as well as diabetes, a history of a surgery or the man may be taking some drugs. A number of medications can cause impotence. In fact, it can be listed among that drug’s side effects.
Erectile dysfunction can be caused by a number of factors, from physical to psychological. Such physical factors as heart disease, obesity, injuries, substance abuse, diabetes, atherosclerosis, taking prescription medications, Parkinson’s disease, high blood pressure, or some surgery, can affect the blood flow and make a hard erection virtually unattainable. Erectile dysfunction can also be caused by psychological factors, such as constant worry, stress, depression or anxiety.
Before you visit your doctor, make sure you write down or try to remember all the symptoms you have noticed that you think may be related to your condition. Symptoms of this kind may include lack of sexual desire, trouble keeping your erection for long enough and some other ones. It’s also important to make a list of all medical conditions you have ever been diagnosed with, and another list of drugs or products you are using.
Further tests may be needed for your doctor to establish if there are any underlying causes that require treatment. You may need blood tests, physical examination of the penis and testicles, urine tests and some other tests to find out what the actual problem is. Some causes can be treated or removed, and the patient will not need to treat erectile dysfunction at all.
If you did not succeed in treating what seems to be the underlying cause, you can always go for popular and highly efficient erectile dysfunction treatments widely available these days. PDE inhibitors such as Viagra and Cialis work by blocking the activity of a chemical responsible for reversing an erection by opening up draining channels for the blood to escape from the penis. They offer the convenience of taking a single pill and enjoying several hours of efficiency, during which the patient can attempt having sex at any moment.
Other options available range from having a surgery or a penile implant to using a vacuum device for better erections. No matter which option is chosen, talking to a doctor is an important step. Some patients may require additional psychological counseling because they may have trouble embracing the fact they are impotent. Not being completely comfortable with that can cause further psychological distress and make things even worse.
Most males living with erectile dysfunction say some time is required to realize their condition is nothing but a health aspect they need to be aware of and keep under control. Once this idea sinks in, using any kind of treatment option available does not create any distress and becomes a normal part of the man’s every day routine. |