What is Erectile Dysfunction (ED)?

Male erectile dysfunction (ED) is sometimes called impotence. It is defined as having a consistent problem getting or maintaining an erection sufficient for you to have sexual intercourse. This does not include the occasional erection problems that most men have which do not lead to chronic ED. It must happen on a regular basis.

Erectile Dysfunction is strongly associated with other medical conditions, especially diabetes. Different men may experience different degrees of ED.

How Common is ED?

Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is very common. Estimates are that approximately 152 million men around the world suffer from ED. If you have ED or think that you might, remember that this is a highly treatable condition that you share with millions of other men worldwide. Treatments for ED are now available that are effective, safe, and easy to use.

What Are the Degrees of ED?

ED can affect different men differently. Healthcare professionals use the following categories to describe ED:

• No ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION. This is the ability to get and keep an erection and is unaffected by ED.
• Mild ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION. This is the ability to get and keep an erection which is mildly decreased. Men with mild ED report only occasional satisfaction with sexual performance.
• Moderate ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION. Your ability to get and keep an erection is moderately decreased. The majority of men with ED have the moderate type. They also report infrequent satisfaction with their sexual performance.
• Severe ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION. The ability to get and keep an erection is severely decreased in this type of ED. Men with severe ED report no or only rare satisfaction with their sexual performance.

While ED physically only affects males, even mild ED may cause you or your partner to experience strong emotions, including a sense of loss. Talking openly and honestly about ED with your partner may bring you closer together and make treatment of ED easier. If you find it difficult to talk about ED, you are not alone.

What Causes ED & What are the Risk Factors?

Other Health Conditions can cause ED

Any disorder that interferes with the physical sequence of events needed to produce and maintain an erection may cause ED. This is especially true with any condition that affects the blood flow to the penis. The more common conditions are:

• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Heart disease (or cardiovascular disease)
• Diabetes
• Depression

These health conditions and the ED they cause should not be confused with the normal aging process in men. As you get older, it takes longer to achieve an erection, or that your erection is not as hard as when you were younger, or that it takes longer to climax. Remember that ED is not an inevitable part of aging, but is highly treatable.

ED Can Be Caused By Some Medications

About one-quarter of all cases of ED are caused by medicines used to treat other conditions. These include:

• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Heart Disease (cardiovascular disease)
• Depression

If you think the cause of your ED might be one of your medications, talk to your healthcare professional to see if another medication could reduce your ED symptoms.

Habits and lifestyle factors can affect your erections too!

These include:

• Smoking
• Drinking too much

Can ED be Prevented or Cured?

Many of the conditions that cause ED can be well-controlled. This may prevent loss of erectile function. If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, it is important to follow your healthcare professionals advice in managing your condition so control of your ED is better. Avoid smoking or excessive drinking may also reduce your risk of ED. Maintaining a healthy diet and exercise program may also help reduce your chances of ED.

In most cases, ED cannot be cured, but there are very effective treatments available today that did not exist before.

What are the Treatments for ED?

Only a small percentage of men with ED are currently being treated. However, with new treatments being developed, more should will be treated in the future. Men with ED, and their partners, are realizing that they do not have to give up an important and pleasurable part of their lives. Do not hesitate to get help and put the joy of sexual activity back into your relationship.

Current ED treatment options include:

• PDE5 Inhibitors
  • these are prescription-only pills which help men get an erection in response to sexual stimulation have rapidly become the most popular form of ED treatment worldwide
  • Viagra , Levitra , and Cialis are the most commonly used drugs
  • These pills are convenient as you take a pill shortly before you initiate sexual activity
  • These pills only work if you are sexually stimulated and feels more spontaneous and natural than other treatment options
  • These pills are not for those individuals who use medications that contain nitrates, even if you use than only occasionally (like nitroglycerin)
  • Talk to your healthcare professional if you have questions
• Other oral medications
  • New addition is called "apomorphine"
  • Disolves under tongue
  • Acts on the part of the brain that controls your sex drive
• Injection Therapy
  • Prescription-only needles are filled with medicine that helps you get an erection
  • Side effects include prolonged erection, pain from injection, and scar tissue on the penis
• Urethral insertion tablets (suppositories)
  • Prescription-only tablets or pellets that are inserted into your penis to help you get an erection
  • Offers an option for men who do like the injections
  • tablets cause pain in approximately 30% of the patients
  • do not use if your partner is pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant
• Vacuum devices
  • with this method, you place a vacuum tube over your penis to help create an erection by suction
  • a ring is placed around the base of your penis to maintain your erection
  • vacuum devices should only be used for about 30 minutes since 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
  • procedure may be painful and there is a risk for infection after surgery
  • most men and their partners report satisfaction with this treatment
• Psychotherapy