Men who suffer from erectile dysfunction should seek medical attention, even if they feel embarrassed. ED is often a sign of serious underlying health problems such as diabetes and heart disease.
Most people have occasional erection problems. However, if sexual problems continue for a long time it may be a sign of a problem that can be treated.
Symptoms
If erectile dysfunction is ongoing and negatively affecting your quality of life, talk to your primary care doctor or a urologist (a physician who specializes in urinary tract disorders). Both can examine you, discuss symptoms and health conditions and recommend tests.
Symptoms of ED
Some tests might include a physical exam, blood tests and a penis X-ray. Symptoms of ED are often easier to diagnose than you might think. They may include being unable to get or keep an erection that is firm enough for sexual, difficulty with initiating sexual and an orgasm that doesn’t last long.
Your doctor might ask questions about your sexual history and use of narcotics, alcohol or other drugs and medications that you might be taking. He or she might also refer you to a mental health provider for evaluation and treatment.
Your doctor might use a questionnaire to assess your sexual life and sexual satisfaction, or a five-question International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). The results of the IIEF help doctors determine whether ED is caused by vascular, neurologic or psychological causes. These might include depression, relationship problems, stressors, anxiety or medications like narcotics, antidepressants and testosterone deficiency treatments.
You might be embarrassed about talking to your doctor about erectile dysfunction, but it’s important to do so — even if you don’t believe the problem is serious. If underlying issues are to blame, treating those might be all it takes to reverse the ED.
If you are in a romantic relationship, involve your partner when you visit the doctor to discuss ED. Keeping the lines of communication open helps couples work together on a treatment plan and reduces strain in the relationship.
Men might avoid discussing ED
Men might avoid discussing ED with their partners because they fear being judged, but if left untreated, the condition can lead to feelings of shame and resentment, as well as strained relationships. Both partners can benefit from treatment for erectile dysfunction, which might include therapy or medication. Often, couples choose to receive treatment for ED at the same time. This can help them feel more comfortable during sexual encounters. Fildena 100 mg and Fildena 150 mg are best medicine for ED.
Causes
The cause of erectile dysfunction is usually linked to a health or lifestyle issue. A physical problem, such as hardened arteries (atherosclerosis), can reduce blood flow to the penis, leading to an inability to achieve or keep an erection.
Other medical conditions, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, and diabetes, may also prevent erections. A person can also develop erectile dysfunction as a result of an injury or surgery to the pelvic area. Certain drugs, such as cocaine, amphetamines, and some prescription medications, can have an impact on sexual performance as well.
In addition, certain psychological issues can cause ED. These include relationship or marital problems, stress, anxiety and depression, as well as the effects of a traumatic sexual experience in the past.
Other medical conditions
Erectile dysfunction can be an early warning sign of serious underlying conditions, including heart disease and stroke. Men who are experiencing ED should be screened for these conditions. A physical exam, such as checking blood pressure and palpating the penis to assess sensitivity and rigidity, may be performed. Laboratory testing may also be done, including a complete blood count, electrolyte test, cholesterol, and a creatinine and liver function test. A blood test that measures testosterone levels can be useful in identifying hypogonadism as the cause of ED.
A questionnaire that asks a man how often he desires sexual activity, whether or not an erection is experienced, and his satisfaction with sexual can help to diagnose erectile dysfunction.
Treatments for erectile dysfunction
Treatments for erectile dysfunction can range from medication to vascular surgery and penile implants. In addition, a physician can offer advice about making healthy lifestyle changes, such as avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol use, maintaining a balanced diet and engaging in regular exercise.
Regardless of the cause, erectile dysfunction can affect the quality of life for the sufferer and his partner. Men who are embarrassed to discuss sexual problems with their doctors should remember that erectile dysfunction is a common condition and it can be treated successfully.
Treatment
It is estimated that about half of men by the time they reach their fifties have erectile dysfunction to some degree. Many of them don’t seek medical help, often due to embarrassment or the belief that the condition is normal. Symptoms of the condition include being unable to achieve an erection during sexual intercourse or having a weak erection that doesn’t last long enough to engage in sexual intercourse.
There are many treatments for erectile dysfunction, including medications and lifestyle changes. Eating a diet that includes healthy foods and regular exercise can help. Refraining from smoking, consuming excessive amounts of alcohol or recreational drugs, and losing excess weight can also improve symptoms. Psychological counseling or couples therapy can also help if psychological problems are contributing to ED.
Doctor suspects a health problem
If your doctor suspects a health problem is causing your erectile dysfunction, he may order blood tests to look for diabetes or other conditions that might be affecting your ability to get and keep an erection. An ultrasound test of your penis and surrounding blood vessels can also be used to check for a blockage or flow problem. This test involves a wandlike device that creates a video image to let your doctor see the blood vessels in your penis.
Other diagnostic tests may include a physical exam, a review of your family history and medications you are taking. Your doctor may also ask you to describe your relationship with your sexual partner and any stressors that might be related to ED.
Your urologist will probably recommend that you try oral PDE-5 inhibitors first to determine whether they are helpful for you. If they don’t, he might prescribe other medications that can be taken by mouth or injected into the penis to increase blood flow and help you get an erection.
In some cases, your doctor might suggest that you have surgery to bypass arteries in your penis that have trouble delivering blood. This is a last resort option and only recommended for a small number of people with severe erectile dysfunction that does not respond to medications or lifestyle changes.
Prevention
Fortunately, a lot can be done to prevent or treat erectile dysfunction. He or she will do a physical exam and ask questions to learn more about your symptoms. They might do a blood test to look for diabetes, low testosterone levels or other health conditions that could be contributing to your ED.
In addition to checking for underlying health issues, your doctor may also recommend certain lifestyle changes. These include not smoking, limiting alcohol intake, staying at a healthy weight, getting plenty of exercise, controlling stress and avoiding high-fat foods. For some people, these measures can completely eliminate their erectile problems. For others, it may reduce the severity of their ED or help them keep an erection longer.
Good idea to communicate
It is also a good idea to communicate with your sexual partner about the problem. Many men hide the problem and avoid seeking treatment, which can strain a relationship and cause emotional pain for both parties. A man suffering from erectile dysfunction can feel like his partner does not want to be intimate with him, which can lead to additional stress, depression and anxiety. Some couples even consider counseling sessions to discuss the issue.
If you are still experiencing ED after making these changes, your doctor might recommend taking PDE-5 inhibitors. These are drugs that can boost a person’s libido, increase the stiffness of an erection and extend the duration of an erection. For those not already taking nitrates or other drugs that interact with the medication, these can be an effective treatment for ED.
Conclusion
In the end, it is important to remember that the physical and psychological aspects of erectile dysfunction are interrelated. In some cases, it is a direct result of the natural aging process or a side effect of a disease, such as diabetes or prostate-related treatments. In other cases, it is due to mental health concerns or fears of sexual activity (genophobia). Getting help for a problem like this, especially if the anxiety or stress is related to sexual, can go a long way in relieving your symptoms and improving your life. Read More Blog…