Erectile Dysfunction Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

One of the health challenges prevalent in men is erectile dysfunction. Many men have suffered in silence about this situation for the fear of stigma and lack of knowledge on how to go about this situation. This post aims to address what erectile dysfunction is all about, the symptoms, its causes, and how available treatment is available. 

However, this post is not a substitute for seeking medical consultation; instead, it is an information guide on what erectile dysfunction is all about and some other related areas concerning the condition.

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What is Erectile Dysfunction? 

Erectile Dysfunction is a disorder that affects men in general. It affects men from age 40 and above. It is a condition where the victim can not maintain a penile erection for a long time or cannot have one. It is a physiological condition as much as it is a medical condition. 

Erectile Dysfunction Vs Premature Ejaculation

Erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation are in no way the same thing although both are affecting men’s sexual health. Also, many people still mistake one for the other. 

Premature ejaculation is the release of semen during sexual faster than normal period. To explain further, it means the victim ejaculates either before the actual sex activity or shortly during the penetration.

Conversely, erectile dysfunction is a condition in which where a man can not have an erection or can have one long enough for actual sexual activity. 

The symptoms are different, however, both conditions can be a result of these underlying medical conditions or physiological problems. In addition, there is a treatment for both conditions.

Erectile dysfunction causes 

The cause of erectile dysfunction can be a result of an underlying medical issue or a physiological condition. Therefore, we have two categories of the causes of erectile dysfunction – Medical and Non-medical issues

The Medical Causes

For medical causes, we have the following health issues as one contributor to erectile dysfunction in men

• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Hormonal Imbalance 
• Cardiovascular Disease
• Surgery 

The non-medical causes

For non-medical causes, we have the following to be things that can cause erectile dysfunction

• Stress
• Anxiety
• Trauma

When you go for therapy or treatment. Your medical doctor aims to discover the root causes of your condition. Consequently,  they would ask questions about your lifestyle, mental health, medical history, level, and other conditions 

Erectile dysfunction treatment 

Is erectile dysfunction curable? Yes, the condition is treatable and the mode of treatment varies from one person to another person depending on the nature and cause of the condition in the individual. There are a majority of successful testimonials about the resolution of the condition in many cases. 

The first step in every treatment is to determine the root causes peculiar to your condition. The treatment approach steps down from the understanding of these causes.

Whether medical or non-medical cause, the treatment suggested will be used as a measure to cut back on the affecting factors and manage the condition over time.

The Most Popular & Most Rated Cure for Erectile Dysfunction

The treatment approach involves the use of: 

Drugs

We have special drugs used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. They are generally called Sildenafil drugs. Most people know the drug as “viagra” and different kinds and brands are available in pharmaceutical stores.

The main function of these drugs is to enhance penile erection by increasing blood flow to the penis. There are side effects to the use of these drugs and should not be used inappropriately.

However, the usage of these drugs is not efficient in all cases and there is different feedback from different people. There are some conditions where the drug will not have an effect. We have some cases where they work at first and stop working. 

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Pros and Cons of using Sildenafil Drugs (Viagra)

Pros

The reasons why using sildenafil drugs constitute the pros. The pros are

• Improving erection: Using viagra is one of the treatments for erectile dysfunction and as such can lead to situations where the condition is improved and further progression of the erectile condition is controlled.
• Enhance sexual performance: The sexual performance of the man becomes highly effective should the drugs take effect. 

Cons 

The cons comprise the negative effects of using these drugs. The negative effects can be either mild or very serious depending on the conditions and the reaction with the body. 

The mild negative effects include 

• Headache
• Flushing
• Nausea
• Indigestion
• Back Pain
• Muscle Pain
• Stuffy Nose
• Dizziness

The serious negative effects include 

• Allergic reactions such as skin irritations and itching.
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Heart disease
• Priapism
• Low blood pressure
• Heartbeat disorder
• Impaired Vision

The effects may be a single episode, especially in the case of mild effects but in the case where the effects are recurring, you need to see a medical doctor.

Furthermore, there are also drugs that the patients do not have to ingest orally. These kinds of drugs are known as intracavernosal and they are injected into the penis directly.

This method is more effective and takes effect fast compared to medication. The injection must always be in cold storage when not in use to maintain its potency.

In addition, the occurrence of side effects such as headache and dizziness do not come with the use of the injection

However, there are side effects that come with the use of an intracavernosal injection.

• Burning
• Priapism
• Scars
• Pains from the use of injection

Vacuum Pumps

Vacuum pumps work effectively for those with injury to the nerve endings in the penis. It is a device that you wear on the penis and it helps increase the blood flow by sucking air. With this one can get an erection lasting up to 30 minutes. However, there are some cons to using this approach. They include

• Unstable erection
• Bruises and scars 
• Limited time for erection 
• Blocked ejaculation
• Cold erection

Many patients find the use of vacuum pumps and the use of injections stressful and they usually reduce the level of spontaneity during sexual relations between the man and their partner.

Erectile dysfunction symptoms 

The symptoms associated with erectile dysfunction are not far-fetched. There are not too many symptoms other than erection problems. Having the following symptoms will need you to see your doctor for medical evaluation on erectile dysfunction.

• Weak erection
• A short time of erection
• Inability to have an erection
• Little or no sexual desire 

Implants

The use of Implants is proven to be the most satisfactory and effective way of treating erectile dysfunction. It involves a surgical operation where the implant is placed. The implants comprise a pump that is used to control the erection.

Shockwave therapy

Shockwave therapy is not yet an accepted treatment for erectile dysfunction. However, there are positive signs that the procedure can work to treat erectile dysfunction. It does not need pills or surgical procedures, instead low-intensity shockwave therapy. 

Common questions about erectile dysfunction 

Some frequent questions are commonly asked by people. Following are some of the questions commonly asked

Can alcohol affect erectile dysfunction?

The answer is yes. There are high chances of having erectile dysfunction when you are a heavy drinker of alcohol. Heavy drinking causes the production of testosterone to reduce and thus there will be problems concerning an individual’s sexual performance.

Can Diabetes lead to erectile dysfunction? 

The answer is yes. People with type 2 diabetes will have the problem of erectile dysfunction because over time there has been damage to the nerves and blood vessels, especially those concerned with sending blood to the penis. 

Is Erectile dysfunction a disease of older men only?

Not entirely true, because there are cases where we have the conditions in younger men of age 40 or even lesser. But there is no definite age for which we can say that one will have the condition. There are different factors to consider that will fall in place for the condition to happen.

Final Notes on Erectile Dysfunction Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Erectile dysfunction is one of the conditions that affect the sexual performance of men. Fortunately, we have ways through which this condition can be managed. We discuss these ways and the causes of the condition in this post.

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