Few topics are more taboo than erectile dysfunction. Although countless men have experienced the frustration or embarrassment of not getting the desired results during sex, it’s not something you’re likely to hear publicly from many of them.
But many sexual health experts say erectile dysfunction is nothing to be ashamed of and that recognizing that it happens sometimes can be healthy. “Erectile dysfunction can be viewed as a complex, normal, stressful part of life,” says Dr. Paul Turek, a male fertility doctor and director of the Turek Clinic in San Francisco. “But believe me, medical care and lifestyle changes can lead to impressive improvements not only in erections but also in overall lifespan.”
What is erectile dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction, often called erectile dysfunction, “is the inability to initiate or maintain an erection firm enough for penetration,” explains Dr. Stanton Honig, a urologist and chief of the urology department of reproductive and sexual medicine at the Yale University School of Medicine.
It basically has two elements: getting blood into the penis to initially get an erection and keeping blood in the penis to maintain it. “Some men may have a problem with one, some men may have a problem with the other, and some men may have a problem with both,” says Dr. Matt Armstrong, a physician and urologist at Revere Health in Utah.
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There are also different types of erectile dysfunction. Chronic erectile dysfunction, for example, usually means a person has a blood flow problem or nerve damage, leading to ongoing problems, says Honig. “But a patient who only occasionally experiences erectile dysfunction is most likely experiencing it situationally, meaning it is not necessarily a permanent condition but may be driven by the stress or anxiety that releases adrenaline which will cause an erection to disappear or does not allow proper blood flow to the penis.
In other words, for some men, stress or anxiety is the real – and temporary – cause of the problem, and when the stress is removed, erectile dysfunction usually accompanies it.
How common is erectile dysfunction?
In fact, when it comes to the frequency of erectile dysfunction, Turek says that stress-related erectile dysfunction is by far the most common contributing factor among young men, “especially healthy young men.” In this younger population, erectile dysfunction is even more common than some people think. A study shows that nearly one in five men aged 18 to 24 experience difficulty getting or maintaining an erection.
In general, however, it is known that erectile dysfunction worsens with age, “but it really depends on the patient and their overall health, because the causes of erectile dysfunction are related to cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis and diabetes,” says Armstrong.
The exact frequency of this problem in older age groups varies, but, after taking into account the average results of several studies, Turek says the most reliable formula to follow to determine how many men of different ages are actually facing this problem is to take their age and subtract 10%. “So about 60% of people aged 70 will have some form of erectile dysfunction, and 40% of people aged 50 will have it, and so on,” he explains.
How to treat erectile dysfunction
For these people and their partners, the question is how to treat this condition. Fortunately, this is a question that has many interesting answers. However, before you start considering medical intervention, it is important to get to the root cause of the problem in the first place and resolve it.
“First-line therapies include lifestyle changes such as regular physical activity, eating a heart-healthy diet, getting enough sleep, avoiding behaviors such as smoking and drinking, reducing stress and weight loss,” says Mayo physician and urologist Dr. Nahid Punjani. Clinic in Arizona. “We also always encourage patients to talk to their partners and have an open dialogue – sex therapy can help them, if necessary.”
After seeking to understand and treat the root cause, many options for medical intervention remain available. The most popular choice for most men is to take oral tablets such as sildenafil (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis), “which can effectively treat about 65 percent of cases,” says Turek.
If this fails, other alternatives could be considered. Some of these include topical gels, intraurethral suppositories, and shockwave therapy, says Armstrong. Vacuum erection devices, or “penis pumps” as they are often called, are another proven option. “Although they are somewhat difficult to use, they work quite well,” says Honig.
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Another alternative “is to inject medication directly into the side of the penis with a small needle that barely hurts,” says Honig. “It will work in about 70% of men who don’t respond to oral medications.”
However, any medical intervention related to erectile dysfunction comes with often minor but sometimes significant side effects that you need to be aware of. It starts with meeting with your primary care provider “and having an honest, open, frank discussion of your concerns and questions,” Armstrong suggests. “Your doctor will be happy to help you find a solution or a specialist who can help you find an option you are comfortable with.”
News Source : www.usatoday.com
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