Erectile dysfunction is more common than you might think, but because it's such a sensitive subject many people dealing with ED suffer privately. We'll demystify the topic to make it a bit easier to talk about — with a healthcare practitioner, a partner, or even yourself.
While speaking to a healthcare practitioner is the best course of action when treating ED, we've put together an overview of the causes, symptoms, and available treatments to help you better understand this common issue. Read on so you can ask informed questions when seeking treatment, and you may even feel more comfortable bringing it up with your partner if you want them to better understand the issue.
What is erectile dysfunction, exactly?
ED refers to the persistent, recurrent inability to get an erection firm enough, or to maintain it for long enough, for satisfying sexual activity. This covers a range of different symptoms. For example, one person may be able to get hard initially but are unable to keep an erection firm for long enough to climax. Another person may find they have an inability to achieve an erection altogether. Both of these cases would qualify as ED, even though the experience in each case is a bit different.
This variation in erectile dysfunction symptoms makes it all the more important to talk to a doctor, since they may recommend different treatments depending on the specifics of your case.
What causes an erection?
An erection occurs as the result of a chain of chemical reactions in the body that result from sexual stimulation of some kind. When sexual stimulation occurs, penile nerve endings and the endothelium — the lining of the blood vessels — release nitric oxide. This stimulates the production of cyclic GMP, which in turn relaxes the penile smooth muscle tissue. With this tissue relaxed, increased blood is able to flow into the penis, resulting in an erection.
Erectile dysfunction causes
There are many potential factors that can contribute to ED. These are things most of us are exposed to at one time or another. Common causes include:
Psychological factors
Psychological erectile dysfunction can be caused by factors such as depression, performance anxiety, relationship issues with your partner that may need to be addressed, or issues resulting from a high amount of porn consumption that can make IRL arousal more difficult to achieve.
Stress
We all know the number that stress can do on our bodies, and it turns out it can cause problems with sexual function as well. The physiological responses that take place in the body in response to stress can interrupt the process that needs to take place in order to get an erection.
Diet
While there's no superfruit that will magically give you an erection, and no single culprit when it comes to foods to avoid if you want to treat your ED, a balanced diet can help prevent some of the leading erectile dysfunction causes. Since heart disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol have been linked to ED, a diet rich in fruits and veggies, protein, and healthy fat, as well as avoiding sugar and processed foods can help mitigate these risk factors.
Diabetes has also been linked to higher incidence of ED, with one study finding that the incidence of ED was 50% across age groups with men with diabetes and high blood pressure.
Alcohol consumption
We're not here to tell you you shouldn't enjoy that extra nightcap before heading to the bedroom, but if you're dealing with erectile dysfunction, it is possible that your sexual performance is being impacted by alcohol.
Alcohol can impact the physiological process that leads to an erection in the short term, but ED has also been linked with long-term alcohol consumption, which is another good reason to avoid making excessive alcohol consumption a regular habit.
Smoking
Just as a poor diet can lead to narrowing of the arteries that makes blood flow more difficult, smoking can have a similar effect over time. Smoking can cause plaque to build up in the arteries over time, which is definitely not conducive to blood being able to easily flow to form an erection.
Drug use
Certain prescription drugs and recreational drugs can cause ED in some cases. If you're taking a prescription drug that is contributing to ED, it's important to discuss the issue with a healthcare practitioner so that they can come up with the best ED treatment that won't interfere with any other health conditions you're being treated for.
Certain antidepressants, chemotherapy drugs, and blood pressure drugs can impact sexual function. A range of drugs that reduce testosterone, such as antiandrogens and certain heart drugs may also be contributors.
Recreational drugs that can contribute to ED include amphetamines, barbiturates, cocaine, marijuana, and heroin.
Sleep disorders
Getting a good night's rest may also help alleviate ED, since sleep deprivation can contribute to a reduction in testosterone. One University of Chicago Medical Center study found that one week of sleeping only five hours per night resulted in a 10-15% reduction in testosterone levels, the equivalent of aging 10-15 years. While the impact of this reduction on erections wasn’t directly studied, it is possible that a decrease in testosterone may impact on ED.
Age
Age is a risk factor for erectile dysfunction, but this doesn't mean young men don't frequently deal with ED as well. A 2013 study from the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that 26% of men under the age of 40 are affected by erectile dysfunction. However, even if you are otherwise healthy, the chance that you will experience symptoms of ED increases each decade.
Cancer
More common in older men, cancers such as bladder, colorectal, or prostate cancer can cause ED. In some cases, the treatments for these cancers all cause ED.
Testing for erectile dysfunction
Your healthcare practitioner will ask you about your symptoms and medical history. They may also inquire about some of the psychological factors that can be at the root of ED, such as stress and anxiety.
Having a recent blood pressure test is also important, because it will impact whether or not your doctor can safely prescribe PDE5 inhibitors, the most common treatment for ED.
In rarer cases, your health care practitioner may recommend additional tests, such as an ultrasound or a blood test, to find out what may be contributing to your ED symptoms before prescribing a PDE5 inhibitor.
How is Erectile Dysfunction Diagnosed?
The common symptoms of ED are:
- difficulty getting an erection
- difficulty maintaining an erection
- reduced libido
Other symptoms that may be related to ED include:
- premature ejactulation
- delayed ejaculation
- inability to orgasm
If you're experiencing any of these signs of ED, especially if they are persistent and have lasted for over three months, talking to a healthcare practitioner can help you determine what treatment is best for you.
The good news is that erectile dysfunction is actually pretty easy to treat effectively in most cases, and after discussing your situation with a healthcare practitioner you may be on your way with an effective treatment in no time.
Erectile dysfunction treatments
Since there are a range of erectile dysfunction causes, a doctor may recommend different treatments depending on the underlying cause. Let's take a look at some of the main treatments used to treat erectile dysfunction:
ED Medications
Oral medications known as PDE5 inhibitors are frequently prescribed as treatment for erectile dysfunction.
These PDE5 inhibitors work by slowing down the rate at which the body breaks down cGMP by the enzyme PDE, or phosphodiesterase. By slowing down the breakdown of cGMP, the smooth muscle can remain relaxed longer, allowing an erection to be maintained as long as the drug is in your system. A healthcare practitioner can help you determine what options work best for you.
A common ED misconception is that taking a PDE5 inhibitor can give you an instant erection. Given how these drugs work, sexual stimulation is still required in order for the blood flow to the penis to occur that is required for an erection.
Another common misconception we'll address here is the question of whether drugs can make you bigger: nope, they won't have an effect on size, just on the blood flow to the penis and maintenance of an erection. These drugs also won't make you last longer, so if you're not experiencing ED they won't help.
PDE5 inhibitors are the most common treatment for erectile dysfunction, since they're effective and easy to incorporate into your sex life. They don't need to be taken regularly (although some can be), only when you're planning to have sex.
They are generally safe, although like any medication there are some potential side effects. There are a range of alternatives to PDE5 inhibitors that you can explore with your health care practitioner if necessary.
Talk therapy
Other treatment options address the psychological factors that are sometimes the cause of ED. By speaking with a trained therapist, you may be able to overcome mental blocks around performance anxiety, low self esteem, or relationship issues that are contributing to erectile dysfunction.
Vacuum pumps
Vacuum pumps, also known as penis pumps, can help in cases where other interventions are unsafe or unavailable. These may not work for everyone and don't treat the root cause of ED, but they can help you achieve an erection for long enough to have satisfying sexual intercourse. They can also be used in conjunction with other interventions, such as PDE5 inhibitors.
Intracavernosal injections
ICIs are a self-injection treatment where medications are injected into the penis. As unappealing as may sound, it's also a very effective treatment that can be worth considering if PDE5 inhibitors aren't right for you. Your doctor can help you determine if this option is worth considering.
Hormone therapy
Your doctor may request a blood test to determine if there are any endocrine, or hormonal, issues that may be causes of ED in your case. If so, hormonal therapies may be a treatment option.
Exercises
Pelvic exercises, also known as kegels, are sometimes recommended for those with erectile dysfunction symptoms. These exercises strengthen the bulbocavernosus muscle, which plays a role in engorging the penis with blood during an erection.
If stress, anxiety, or an unhealthy lifestyle are contributing factors to ED, aerobic exercise may also help alleviate erectile dysfunction symptoms with time.
Diet and lifestyle changes
While diet and lifestyle changes won't work overnight, switching to a healthier diet, quitting smoke, and reducing alcohol consumption can all contribute to a reduction in ED symptoms. These can be implemented in conjunction with PDE5 inhibitors so that you can rely on them less in the future.
While Alkohol oder eine andere Art von PDE5-Hemmer kann im Allgemeinen zusammen konsumiert werden. Wenn Sie die Menge an Alkohol reduzieren, die Sie konsumieren, wenn Sie planen, Sex zu haben, können Sie die Wahrscheinlichkeit erhöhen, dass Sie eine Erektion bekommen und aufrechterhalten.
Chirurgie
Keine Sorge, Sie müssen wahrscheinlich nicht operiert werden, wenn Sie an einer erektilen Dysfunktion leiden! Der Vollständigkeit halber erwähnen wir jedoch diese seltenere Behandlung, die gelegentlich in Fällen angewendet wird, in denen Medikamente nicht wirksam sind.
Es gibt zwei Hauptarten chirurgischer Behandlungen, die zur Behandlung der erektilen Dysfunktion eingesetzt werden können: Penisimplantate und Gefäßchirurgie.
Eine Gefäßchirurgie kann verstopfte Arterien reparieren und eine ausreichende Durchblutung des Penis ermöglichen.
Penisimplantate können entweder aufblasbar oder formbar sein. Bei aufblasbaren Implantaten kann eine Pumpe verwendet werden, um eine Erektion herzustellen, während ein verformbares Penisimplantat bei Bedarf manuell positioniert werden kann.
Wie alle Operationen sind chirurgische Eingriffe bei ED mit Risiken verbunden. Sie sind sicherlich nicht die erste Vorgehensweise, aber einige Menschen sind der Meinung, dass sie aufgrund ihrer Umstände die beste Option zur Behandlung von ED sind.
Kann erektile Dysfunktion verhindert werden?
Es gibt zwar Lebensstilentscheidungen, die Sie treffen können, um das Risiko einer erektilen Dysfunktion zu verringern, aber die Tatsache, dass dies ein so häufiges sexuelles Gesundheitsproblem ist, deutet darauf hin, dass es auch bei ansonsten gesunden, aktiven Personen auftreten kann. Obwohl das Leiden an erektiler Dysfunktion nicht unbedingt bedeutet, dass Ihr Lebensstil dafür verantwortlich ist, kann die Vermeidung einiger der häufigsten Ursachen für erektile Dysfunktion Ihre Wahrscheinlichkeit verringern, an dieser zu erkranken. Dazu gehören:
- Mit dem Rauchen aufhören, wenn Sie Raucher sind
- Begrenzung des Konsums von Freizeitdrogen
- Begrenzung des Alkoholkonsums
- Essen Sie eine Diät, die reich an Obst und Gemüse, Eiweiß und gesunden Fetten wie Fisch und Nüssen ist
- Aufrechterhaltung eines regelmäßigen Trainingsprogramms, das zu Ihrem Lebensstil passt
- Einsatz von Stressbewältigungstechniken wie Meditation und Yoga
Wenn es eine wichtige Sache gibt, die man aus dem Lesen mitnehmen kann, dann ist es, dass ED etwas ist, das viele Menschen erleben. Wenn Sie bereit sind, Ihre medizinischen Möglichkeiten zu prüfen, um dieses Problem anzugehen, starte einen Online-Besuch mit Felix heute.
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