Understand Erectile Dysfunction before You Regret

Dr. Rahul Yadav is currently Senior Consultant in Department of Urology and Renal Transplant, Apollomedics Super Speciality Hospital, Lucknow discusses about Erectile Dysfunction, Causes & Risk Factors, Tests, Treatments and Do’s & Don’ts.

What is erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction (ED), or male impotence, is a man’s inability to get or keep an erection long enough to finish sexual activity. ED causes great distress and problems with relationships.

The percentage of men affected with ED increases with age. About 10% of men in their 60s and 30% in their 70s have ED. Erectile dysfunction can occur at any age, but it is more common in men older than 75 years of age.

Is erectile dysfunction just a part of old age?

Erectile dysfunction doesn't have to be a part of getting older. It's true that as you get older, you may need more stimulation (such as stroking and touching) to get an erection. You might also need more time between erections. But older men should still be able to get an erection and enjoy sex.

Causes & Risk Factors

What causes erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction can be caused by:

1.     If you can't keep your blood sugar or your blood pressure under control, you can get erectile dysfunction. It's important that you take your medicines for these problems just the way your doctor tells you.

2.    Sometimes your hormones get out of balance and this causes erectile dysfunction. Your doctor will decide if you need blood tests to check your hormones.

3.     Some medicines can cause erectile dysfunction. If this is true for you, your doctor may take you off that medicine or give you a different one.

4.     Drinking too much alcohol, smoking too much and abusing drugs can also cause erectile dysfunction.

5.     Problems in your relationship with your sexual partner can also cause erectile dysfunction. Improving your relationship may help your sex life.

If you decide to seek therapy, it will probably be most effective if your sex partner is included. Couples can learn new ways to please one another and to show affection. This can reduce anxiety about having erections.

·        Diabetes (high blood sugar)

·        Hypertension (high blood pressure)

·        Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)

·        Stress, anxiety or depression

·        Alcohol and tobacco use

·    Some prescription medications, such as antidepressants, pain medicine and medicine for high blood pressure

·        Fatigue

·        Brain or spinal-cord injuries

·        Hypogonadism (which leads to lower testosterone levels)

·        Multiple sclerosis

·        Parkinson's disease

·        Radiation therapy to the testicles

·        Stroke

·        Some types of prostate or bladder surgery

Diagnosis & Tests

How Is Erectile Dysfunction Diagnosed?

The health care provider will ask about the firmness and duration of erections at different times (e.g., sex with partners, erections after sleep). Discussing sexual dysfunction with a health care provider is very important because many conditions causing it can be successfully treated. If a man has no diseases that cause ED and can have an erection with masturbation or early morning awakening, he likely has ED due to psychological causes.

Treatment

How is erectile dysfunction treated?

The treatment for erectile dysfunction depends on what is causing it. After your doctor checks you for medical problems and medicines that might cause erectile dysfunction, he or she may have you try a medicine to help with erectile dysfunction. Not everyone can use these medicines. Your doctor may talk to you about alprostadil if oral medicines aren't an option for you. It can be injected into the penis or inserted as a tiny suppository into the urethra. Your doctor will help you decide which treatment is best for you.

What other options do I have?

If the medicines aren't right for you, you could also try using a penile implant, vacuum pump devices, or you could have surgery. Your doctor may send you to an urologist to talk about these options.

Questionsto Ask Your Doctor?

·        What treatment is best for me?

·        How long will I have to take medicine for erectile dysfunction?

·        Are there any lifestyle changes I should make?

·        How can I talk with my partner about my problem?

·        Is there something I can do other than take medicine to help?

·        Are any of my other medicines causing this problem?

Feelings that can lead to erectile dysfunction

·        Feeling nervous about sex, perhaps because of a bad experience or because of a previous episode of impotence

·        Feeling stressed, including stress from work or family situations

·        Being troubled by problems in your relationship with your sex partner

·        Feeling depressed

·        Feeling so self-conscious that you can't enjoy sex

·        Thinking that your partner is reacting negatively to you

DO's and DON’Ts in Managing Erectile Dysfunction:

·        DO discuss ED with your health care provider.
·     DO make sure that you tell your health care provider all the medicines that you take because many, including high blood pressure medications and antidepressants, can cause ED.
·        DO talk with your partner. Keep lines of communication open.
·        DO exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet, and relax.
·        DO call your health care provider if you see blood or discharge from your penis, sexual intercourse becomes painful, your erection lasts long after intercourse, or you have severe depression or suicidal thoughts.
·        DON’T expect to have normal sex during times of stress, grieving, or depression.
·        DON’T take Sildenafil or tadalafil if you use nitroglycerin products. These medicines may also interfere with vision and shouldn’t be used within several hours of operating an airplane.

Dr.Rahul Yadav is one of the experienced, dedicated and best urologists in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India and trained in robotic surgery. Within the urology subspecialty, he is keenly interested and experienced in Uro-oncology, Female and Pediatric Urologicaldiseases, Sexual problems and its management and among very few dedicatedLaparoscopic/Robotic Uro-oncology surgeon in India.