What Is Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to obtain and maintain an erection that is firm enough for a man to have intercourse, or the inability to keep an erection long enough to ejaculate inside the vagina. It is a newer and better name for what was previously called impotence
It can happen in one of two ways:
· A man may be unable to get an erection at all.
· A man may lose his erection during intercourse, before he ejaculates.
· A man is considered to have erectile dysfunction if he is unable to get or maintain an erection in at least 50 percent of his attempts at intercourse.
Erectile dysfunction is a problem for both the man and his partner. In most cases, it is a temporary condition that will disappear with little or no treatment. In others, it can be an ongoing difficulty that requires treatment.
Is It All In The Mind?
Until recently, psychological factors were believed responsible for the majority of cases of erectile dysfunction. Impotent men often were given dismissive and unhelpful advice such as "don't worry" or "just relax and it will take care of itself."
Today, with vast improvements in diagnostic methods and more sophistication in the approach to the problem, the conclusion is that physical factors are the main cause in the majority of cases. But because the brain does play an important role in sexual activity, there is a definite mind-body connection as well.
How Common Is It?
Erectile dysfunction happens much more often than most people think - it affects more than half of adult men over age 50, and more than a third of all adult men. Regardless of the cause, erectile dysfunction can decrease a man's self esteem and harm his relationship with his partner.
Erectile dysfunction is common
Almost all men experience occasional erectile problems. About one in ten adult men experience erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction can happen at any age
The chance of erectile dysfunction does increase with age. But erectile dysfunction can affect men at any age and at any time in their lives.
Is Erectile Dysfunction Treatable?
Yes. Erectile dysfunction can be successfully treated in the vast majority of individuals. In fact, there have never been more treatment options. Most men regain their ability to have intercourse using one or more of the options available.
How Does Erection Normally Happen?
An erection is a complex event that requires the interaction of the brain, nerves, hormones, and blood vessels. This process is separate from ejaculation and orgasm, both of which can occur without an erect penis.
The male hormone testosterone, which is secreted by the testicles, controls the function of the penis and a man's sex drive. The brain starts the changes that will produce an erection.
What Makes Erection Fail?
Anything that interferes with this chain of events. Fear, anxiety, anger, or any other strong emotion can interrupt the signal from the brain. An illness or physical condition can also impair erections if it interferes with this chain of events.
The Normal Changes As A Man Ages
Although sexual activity normally continues throughout a man's lifetime, his reactions take longer as he ages. He may need more stimulation to get an erection. He may take longer to climax, and he may need to wait longer before he can get another erection.
Nice To Know:
· A man in his 20s usually needs little stimulation and can get an erection in a few minutes. He usually climaxes quickly but can regain his erection in minutes.
· A man in his 40s may need more direct stimulation and fantasy. His climax may be slower, and he often can regain his erection in an hour.
· A man in his 60s needs even more direct stimulation and fantasy. He may take longer to get an erection, but he can maintain it longer. He may need a day or more to have another erection.
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to obtain and maintain an erection that is firm enough for a man to have intercourse, or the inability to keep an erection long enough to ejaculate inside the vagina. It is a newer and better name for what was previously called impotence
It can happen in one of two ways:
· A man may be unable to get an erection at all.
· A man may lose his erection during intercourse, before he ejaculates.
· A man is considered to have erectile dysfunction if he is unable to get or maintain an erection in at least 50 percent of his attempts at intercourse.
Erectile dysfunction is a problem for both the man and his partner. In most cases, it is a temporary condition that will disappear with little or no treatment. In others, it can be an ongoing difficulty that requires treatment.
Is It All In The Mind?
Until recently, psychological factors were believed responsible for the majority of cases of erectile dysfunction. Impotent men often were given dismissive and unhelpful advice such as "don't worry" or "just relax and it will take care of itself."
Today, with vast improvements in diagnostic methods and more sophistication in the approach to the problem, the conclusion is that physical factors are the main cause in the majority of cases. But because the brain does play an important role in sexual activity, there is a definite mind-body connection as well.
How Common Is It?
Erectile dysfunction happens much more often than most people think - it affects more than half of adult men over age 50, and more than a third of all adult men. Regardless of the cause, erectile dysfunction can decrease a man's self esteem and harm his relationship with his partner.
Erectile dysfunction is common
Almost all men experience occasional erectile problems. About one in ten adult men experience erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction can happen at any age
The chance of erectile dysfunction does increase with age. But erectile dysfunction can affect men at any age and at any time in their lives.
Is Erectile Dysfunction Treatable?
Yes. Erectile dysfunction can be successfully treated in the vast majority of individuals. In fact, there have never been more treatment options. Most men regain their ability to have intercourse using one or more of the options available.
How Does Erection Normally Happen?
An erection is a complex event that requires the interaction of the brain, nerves, hormones, and blood vessels. This process is separate from ejaculation and orgasm, both of which can occur without an erect penis.
The male hormone testosterone, which is secreted by the testicles, controls the function of the penis and a man's sex drive. The brain starts the changes that will produce an erection.
What Makes Erection Fail?
Anything that interferes with this chain of events. Fear, anxiety, anger, or any other strong emotion can interrupt the signal from the brain. An illness or physical condition can also impair erections if it interferes with this chain of events.
The Normal Changes As A Man Ages
Although sexual activity normally continues throughout a man's lifetime, his reactions take longer as he ages. He may need more stimulation to get an erection. He may take longer to climax, and he may need to wait longer before he can get another erection.
Nice To Know:
· A man in his 20s usually needs little stimulation and can get an erection in a few minutes. He usually climaxes quickly but can regain his erection in minutes.
· A man in his 40s may need more direct stimulation and fantasy. His climax may be slower, and he often can regain his erection in an hour.
· A man in his 60s needs even more direct stimulation and fantasy. He may take longer to get an erection, but he can maintain it longer. He may need a day or more to have another erection.
Acupuncture points can help to treat impotenceConditions Often Mistaken For Erectile Dysfunction
Other conditions often are mistaken for erectile dysfunction, but they have very different causes and different treatments. They include:
Premature Ejaculation
This is the inability to control or delay ejaculation. This condition is easily mistaken for erectile dysfunction in two ways:
A man may ejaculate as soon as his penis enters the vagina and then immediately lose his erection.
A man may ejaculate as soon as he gets an erection and then is unable to get another.
Delayed Or Inhibited Ejaculation
This is a condition where a man is able to get an erection but is unable to ejaculate.
Retrograde Ejaculation
Surgery on the bladder and some medicines for an enlarged prostate may force ejaculation back into the bladder. While this condition is not harmful, it may be of concern to men when it first occurs.
Lack Of Desire
Some men believe they should always be interested in sex and ready for it. But the human body doesn't always work that way. A man who has temporarily lost interest in sex - because of personal stress, depression, a relationship issue, or another reason - may not be able to get an erection because he is not aroused enough for it to happen. He also may get an erection but lose it before ejaculation, because he is too preoccupied with other issues.
Infertility
Infertility in a man means that he has been unable to father a child after 12 months of regular sexual intercourse without birth control. The ability or inability to achieve an erection is not linked to fertility or infertility.
Other conditions often are mistaken for erectile dysfunction, but they have very different causes and different treatments. They include:
Premature Ejaculation
This is the inability to control or delay ejaculation. This condition is easily mistaken for erectile dysfunction in two ways:
A man may ejaculate as soon as his penis enters the vagina and then immediately lose his erection.
A man may ejaculate as soon as he gets an erection and then is unable to get another.
Delayed Or Inhibited Ejaculation
This is a condition where a man is able to get an erection but is unable to ejaculate.
Retrograde Ejaculation
Surgery on the bladder and some medicines for an enlarged prostate may force ejaculation back into the bladder. While this condition is not harmful, it may be of concern to men when it first occurs.
Lack Of Desire
Some men believe they should always be interested in sex and ready for it. But the human body doesn't always work that way. A man who has temporarily lost interest in sex - because of personal stress, depression, a relationship issue, or another reason - may not be able to get an erection because he is not aroused enough for it to happen. He also may get an erection but lose it before ejaculation, because he is too preoccupied with other issues.
Infertility
Infertility in a man means that he has been unable to father a child after 12 months of regular sexual intercourse without birth control. The ability or inability to achieve an erection is not linked to fertility or infertility.
What Can Trigger Erectile Dysfunction?
Some men are more likely to have erectile problems if they are put under emotional or physical strain. In general, seven "triggers" are linked with erectile dysfunction:
Physical causes are more common in older men, while psychological causes are more common in younger men.
Illnesses
Illnesses that may affect erections include:
· Diabetes
· High blood pressure
· Heart conditions
· Poor circulation
· Kidney failure
· Thyroid deficiency
· Multiple sclerosis
· Chronic alcoholism
· Spinal cord injury
· Depression
· Physical Conditions
Some conditions within the body may cause erectile dysfunction, especially if combined with stress or another trigger. These conditions include:
· Damage to your blood vessels or nerves because of a health condition. Men with conditions such as atherosclerosis ("hardening of the arteries"), diabetes, or high blood pressure may find it harder to get an erection or maintain it.
· Low levels of testosterone. However, low testosterone levels, which tend to occur with aging, are more closely associated with a lowering of the sex drive.
· Prostate surgery. Incontinence and erectile dysfunction are the two most common side effects of prostate surgery. Erectile dysfunction can occur if nerves are damaged during surgery.
Some men are more likely to have erectile problems if they are put under emotional or physical strain. In general, seven "triggers" are linked with erectile dysfunction:
Physical causes are more common in older men, while psychological causes are more common in younger men.
Illnesses
Illnesses that may affect erections include:
· Diabetes
· High blood pressure
· Heart conditions
· Poor circulation
· Kidney failure
· Thyroid deficiency
· Multiple sclerosis
· Chronic alcoholism
· Spinal cord injury
· Depression
· Physical Conditions
Some conditions within the body may cause erectile dysfunction, especially if combined with stress or another trigger. These conditions include:
· Damage to your blood vessels or nerves because of a health condition. Men with conditions such as atherosclerosis ("hardening of the arteries"), diabetes, or high blood pressure may find it harder to get an erection or maintain it.
· Low levels of testosterone. However, low testosterone levels, which tend to occur with aging, are more closely associated with a lowering of the sex drive.
· Prostate surgery. Incontinence and erectile dysfunction are the two most common side effects of prostate surgery. Erectile dysfunction can occur if nerves are damaged during surgery.
Medications that may affect erections include:
· Nicotine (as in excessive smoking)
· Alcohol
· Cocaine, heroine, amphetamines, and other illegal drugs
· Tranquilizers and sleeping pills
· Antidepressants
· Blood pressure medication (beta-blockers)
· Heart medications (such as digoxin)
· Some peptic ulcer medication (such as cimetidine)
Stress
Stress related to a job, marriage, or finances is a common cause of erection problems. Ongoing stress may result in erectile dysfunction, which in turn increases stress.
Sex is a form of communication. Couples who cannot talk to each other are not likely to be able to make love to each other. Men who have trouble communicating their feelings may find it difficult to share with their partner any anxieties about their sexual performance. By keeping these worries to themselves, men become vulnerable to losing their erections.
Men who cannot express and resolve feelings of anger, frustration, or hostility towards their partner may hold back their erection as a weapon in the marital conflict.
Nice To Know:
It was taught that too much sex and masturbation could cause a man to have erectile problems as he gets older. True? No. Erectile dysfunction has nothing to do with how much sex you've had. You can't "overuse" your sexuality.
How Is Erectile Dysfunction Treated?
Men who experience erectile dysfunction have never had so many treatment options. Various therapies are available to successfully treat underlying physical causes and related emotional difficulties.
When the medication Viagra was recently introduced to the market, it was perceived by many to be a "cure-all" for erectile dysfunction. But Viagra is not for everyone. Here is why other therapies are important:
In some cases, simple lifestyle changes may be all that is necessary.
· Some men, such as those with a heart condition, cannot take Viagra and need other options.
· Erectile dysfunction may be linked to deeper emotional or relationship issues that would require counseling in order to address the underlying cause.
· A doctor will decide on treatment based on what is causing the erectile dysfunction.
· The first line of treatment for many men involves lifestyle changes.
· Next, the doctor may prescribe Viagra or another medication and may also recommend counseling for the man and his partner.
· If a man has a severe blood vessel disorder, surgery may be considered. Implants are generally the last line of treatment
· Nicotine (as in excessive smoking)
· Alcohol
· Cocaine, heroine, amphetamines, and other illegal drugs
· Tranquilizers and sleeping pills
· Antidepressants
· Blood pressure medication (beta-blockers)
· Heart medications (such as digoxin)
· Some peptic ulcer medication (such as cimetidine)
Stress
Stress related to a job, marriage, or finances is a common cause of erection problems. Ongoing stress may result in erectile dysfunction, which in turn increases stress.
Sex is a form of communication. Couples who cannot talk to each other are not likely to be able to make love to each other. Men who have trouble communicating their feelings may find it difficult to share with their partner any anxieties about their sexual performance. By keeping these worries to themselves, men become vulnerable to losing their erections.
Men who cannot express and resolve feelings of anger, frustration, or hostility towards their partner may hold back their erection as a weapon in the marital conflict.
Nice To Know:
It was taught that too much sex and masturbation could cause a man to have erectile problems as he gets older. True? No. Erectile dysfunction has nothing to do with how much sex you've had. You can't "overuse" your sexuality.
How Is Erectile Dysfunction Treated?
Men who experience erectile dysfunction have never had so many treatment options. Various therapies are available to successfully treat underlying physical causes and related emotional difficulties.
When the medication Viagra was recently introduced to the market, it was perceived by many to be a "cure-all" for erectile dysfunction. But Viagra is not for everyone. Here is why other therapies are important:
In some cases, simple lifestyle changes may be all that is necessary.
· Some men, such as those with a heart condition, cannot take Viagra and need other options.
· Erectile dysfunction may be linked to deeper emotional or relationship issues that would require counseling in order to address the underlying cause.
· A doctor will decide on treatment based on what is causing the erectile dysfunction.
· The first line of treatment for many men involves lifestyle changes.
· Next, the doctor may prescribe Viagra or another medication and may also recommend counseling for the man and his partner.
· If a man has a severe blood vessel disorder, surgery may be considered. Implants are generally the last line of treatment
Impotence related complication Treatment options include:
Lifestyle Changes
· Cutting down on smoking, alcohol consumption, and drug abuse should be among the first lines of treatment, as they can affect potency. In addition, men can develop erectile problems as a side effect of medication they are taking for an unrelated condition. They may benefit from reducing the dose of the drug or changing to another drug that has the same result but not the same side effects.
Lifestyle Changes
· Cutting down on smoking, alcohol consumption, and drug abuse should be among the first lines of treatment, as they can affect potency. In addition, men can develop erectile problems as a side effect of medication they are taking for an unrelated condition. They may benefit from reducing the dose of the drug or changing to another drug that has the same result but not the same side effects.
Sex Therapy And Counseling
· The focus of therapy is to educate a man and his partner, correct false beliefs, and improve the couple's communication skills. Sex therapy needs commitment and the involvement of a cooperative partner. It can take time.
· The counseling sessions may involve therapeutic tools that include:
· Various exercise to help couples explore each other's body, share their feelings, and experience pleasures they can enjoy together without erections, orgasms, or intercourse being the focus of attention. These exercises are designed to ease tension, relieve performance pressure, and break the circle of failure.
· The "ladder concept," which focuses on men's and women's sexual response over seven different stages, with erection as only one of those stages. This serves to take the mind off erections and to concentrate on other aspects of sexual relations.
· Redefinition of "success." Unrealistic or unreachable goals can only lead to failure. If success is redefined in terms of pleasure and fun rather than performance, the couple can recapture a successful relationship.
Medications
Viagra is available by prescription only and comes in three dosages (25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg). Your doctor may want you try several dosages in order to find the right one for you.. The tablet is taken one hour before sexual activity
Uprima (2 mg and 4 mg). It acts on the central nervous system and in the brain. It facilitates erections within 30 minutes. Uprima must be combined with sexual activity (foreplay) to work properly.
Yohimbine is a drug that has been used as an aphrodisiac, for many years.Given at the right dose, it can enhance erections and increase sexual interest.
Alprostadil A new gel and suppository is available that can be applied to the penis to help impotent men have an erection The gel contains a hormone-like substance, and an agent known as SEPA that helps deliver the alprostadil through the skin of the penis.
Effective Herbal medication for erectile dysfunction (ED)
Ginkgo Biloba
· Ginkgo leads to increased stamina and improved sensitivity. This herbal remedy for erectile dysfunction is especially effective in those individuals who have other symptoms of poor circulation or as a result of antidepressant use.
Panax ginseng
· Studies in Asia have shown that this herb taken over a period of two to three months may improve sexual function and sperm count and motility. This supplement may also reduce fatigue which can lead to impotence issues.
Ptychopetalum olacoides
· Considered by many as the best impotence herb available and in some clinical studies it has proven to be effective as a treatment for erectile dysfunction in some men.
Turnera Aphrodisiaca
· Damiana improves sexual desire and increases libido. Studies have shown that it helps enable mlaes to maintain an erection longer and achieve ejaculation. This herb is also effective for increasing sexual desire and pleasure in females.
Eurycoma Longifolia
· Tongkat Ali appears to boost sexual desire in both males and females. One of the reasons for this is the increased production of testosterone. Since decreased testosterone is one of the common causes of impotence, this supplement is a good herbal impotence treatment.
Lepidium Meyenii
· Maca it is able to increase energy, strength, stamina, and sexual function. It also acts as an aphrodisiac and improves strength and quality of sperm, acts by regulating hormone and enzyme levels in the body.increased energy production, as well as its ability to improve stamina and sexual function make it a good herbal impotence treatment.
Epimedium sagittatum
· Horny Goat Weed helps improve circulation, reduces fatigue, increases sperm production, and enhances sexual desire. It helps males achieve and maintain erection, improve stamina and longevity and enhance the overall experience
Tribulus Terrestris
· It has been shown to increase testosterone levels, especially in those whose levels may be low, and increase sexual desire. This herb works at the hormonal level by increasing Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), in turn increasing LH and FSH which increase testosterone release.
How To Stay Potent
As with all other medical conditions, prevention is better than cure. To prevent erectile problems, take these steps:
· Preserve your well-being. Illnesses, along with their drug or surgical treatment, can cause erectile problems.
· Stick with healthy habits. Avoid smoking, heavy alcohol use, and illegal drugs - they all can affect potency. Get regular light physical exercise, keep your weight under control, and avoid a high-fat diet.
· Avoid long periods of sexual abstinence. Long periods of sexual inactivity can make it difficult to resume activity again. So despite today's busy lifestyles, make time for sex in your relationship.
· Set realistic sexual expectations. Try to concentrate on fun. Spread your sexual feeling over your whole body, not just your penis, and expand your pleasure activities beyond intercourse.
· Stay aware and educated. Get to know your own and your partner's bodies. Learn about sex in general. Try to explore and experiment, and ask your partner for feedback.
· Don't keep worries to yourself. If you are anxious about your sexual performance, talk with your partner, a close friend, or your doctor.
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