Understanding Erectile Dysfunction - Facts About Erectile Dysfunction (ED)
Remember, your doctor or healthcare provider is the single best source of information regarding you and your health. Please consult your doctor if you have any questions about your health, your symptoms, or your medication.
What is erectile dysfunction?
Male erectile dysfunction, sometimes called impotence, is defined as having a consistent problem getting and/or keeping an erection sufficient for you to complete sexual intercourse.
Many men have occasional or temporary erection problems, but that does not always mean erectile dysfunction will become a chronic problem. For the problem to be diagnosed as ED, it must happen on a regular basis. It may not occur every time a man wants to have sex, but it does occur repeatedly, over time.
Male erectile dysfunction is strongly associated with other medical conditions. In fact, it is usually a symptom of some underlying medical condition.
Different men can experience different degrees of erectile dysfunction.
How common is erectile dysfunction (ED)?
ED is a very common condition. An estimated 152 million men worldwide suffer from ED. If you have erectile dysfunction or suspect that you do, you're one of millions of men around the world with this highly treatable condition.
Every day, more and more men are talking about erectile dysfunction and discovering new ED treatments, available from healthcare professionals, which are effective, safe, and easy to use.
Are there degrees of erectile dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction can affect different men to different degrees.
Generally, healthcare professionals use the following categories to describe ED:
- No ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION. The ability to get and keep an erection is unaffected by ED.
- Mild ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION. The ability to get and keep an erection is mildly decreased. Men with mild ED typically report only occasional satisfaction with their sexual performance.
- Moderate ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION. The ability to get and keep an erection is moderately decreased. Men with moderate ED may report infrequent satisfaction with their sexual performance. The majority of men with ED have moderate erectile dysfunction.
- Severe ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION. The ability to get and keep an erection is severely decreased. Men with severe erectile dysfunction may report no or only rare satisfaction with their sexual performance.
It is important to realize that even mild erectile dysfunction may cause you or your partner to experience strong emotions-including a sense of loss. Talking openly and honestly about these feelings can be difficult for some people, but it can help bring couples closer together and increase their chances for successful treatment. If you and your partner find it difficult to talk about erectile dysfunction, you are not alone.
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What causes erectile dysfunction-and what are the risk factors?
Other health conditions can cause erectile dysfunction.
Any disorder that interferes with the physical sequence of events needed to produce an erection may cause ED-particularly any condition that affects the flow of blood to the penis during sexual stimulation. Some of the health conditions commonly associated with erectile dysfunction include:
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease-sometimes called "cardiovascular" disease
- Diabetes
- Depression
As they age, men often notice that it takes longer to get an erection, that their erection may not get as hard as it used to, or that it takes longer to climax. These normal changes related to aging should not be confused with erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction is not an inevitable part of aging - it is highly treatable.
Some medicines can cause erectile dysfunction.
About 25% of erectile dysfunction cases are caused by medicines used to treat other health problems. These include some of the medicines used to treat high blood pressure, heart disease, and depression.
If you think there's a chance that your medicine may be contributing to your erectile dysfunction, talk to your healthcare professional. Ask whether taking a different medicine could help reduce your erectile dysfunction symptoms.
Habits and lifestyle factors may be associated with erectile dysfunction.
Some "bad habits" can affect your erections, too:
- Smoking
- Drinking too much
Can erectile dysfunction be prevented or cured?
Many of the conditions that cause erectile dysfunction can be well controlled, which may help prevent loss of erectile function. If you have any health conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, it is important to follow your healthcare professional's advice for managing these conditions, as well as your overall health. Avoiding smoking and excessive use of alcohol may also reduce your risk of erectile dysfunction. And it is always a good idea to maintain a healthy diet and exercise program.
In most cases, erectile dysfunction cannot be cured, but, usually, it can be treated effectively. In fact, your treatment options now include a new generation of prescription medicines that can help men respond naturally - and spontaneously - to sexual stimulation.
What are the treatment options for erectile dysfunction?
Only a small percentage of men with erectile dysfunction are currently being treated. Fortunately, that's changing. As newer, more convenient treatments become available, more and more men are talking to their health care professionals about managing this highly treatable condition. Men with erectile dysfunction - and their partners - are realizing that they do not have to give up an important and pleasurable part of their life. Don't hesitate to get help and put the joy of sexual activity back into your relationship.
Current ED treatment options include:
PDE5 inhibitors. These prescription-only pills, which help men get an erection in response to sexual stimulation, have rapidly become the most popular form of erectile dysfunction treatment worldwide. Because they're so convenient (you just take a pill shortly before you initiate sexual activity) and because they work only if you are sexually stimulated (by kissing or touching), this method may feel more spontaneous and natural than other treatment options.
While millions of men the world over have used PDE5 inhibitors safely and effectively, they are not for everyone. Talk to your healthcare professional-who knows your medical history - to find out if they are right for you. Do not take PDE5 inhibitors if you are taking a medication that contains nitrates (such as nitroglycerin for chest pains), even if you take the nitrate medication only occasionally.
Other oral medicine. Another recent addition to the list of treatment options is a drug called "apomorphine," which is now available as a tablet that dissolves under the tongue. Unlike PDE5 inhibitors, apomorphine works on a part of the brain that controls sex drive.
Injection therapy. These prescription-only needles are filled with medicine that helps you get an erection. Side effects may include prolonged erection, pain from the injection, and scar tissue on the penis.
Urethral insertion tablets. These are prescription-only tablets or pellets you insert into your penis to help you get an erection. They offer another option for men who don't like injection therapy. The tablets cause local pain in a high number of users and should not be used if your partner is pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
Vacuum devices. With this method, you place a vacuum tube over your penis to help create an erection by suction. A ring you place around the base of your penis helps keep the erection. Vacuum devices are generally safe but should not be used for more than 30 minutes at a time because the penis may become cold and painful.
Surgical implants. Surgically implanted silicone cylinders may be semi-rigid or may be inflated to produce an erection. While many men and their partners report satisfaction with this treatment, the surgical procedure may be painful, and there is a risk of infection both during and after the surgery.
Psychotherapy. You (and your partner) talk to a psychiatrist, psychologist, or other mental health counselor about problems-sexual or otherwise-that may be affecting your ability to get or keep an erection.
