Erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction

It is the inability to keepand get an erection firm enough for sex.If erectile dysfunction is an ongoing issue, however, it can cause stress, affect your self-confidence and contribute to relationship problems.

Symptoms:

·         Trouble getting an erection

·         Trouble keeping an erection

·         Reduced sexual desire

Causes:

·         Heart disease

·         Clogged blood vessels (atherosclerosis)

·         High cholesterol

·         High blood pressure

·         Diabetes

·         Obesity

·         Metabolic syndrome — a condition involving increased blood pressure, high insulin levels, body fat around the waist and high cholesterol

·         Parkinson's disease

·         Multiple sclerosis

·         Scar tissue development inside the penis

·         Alcoholism and other forms of substance abuse

·         Certain prescription medications

·         Tobacco use

·         Sleep disorders

·         Prostate cancer or enlarged prostatetreatments

·         Stress

Risk factors:

·         Medical conditions, particularly diabetes or heart conditions

·         Tobacco use, which restricts blood flow to veins and arteries, can over time  cause chronic health conditions that lead to erectile dysfunction

·         Being overweight, especially if you're obese

·         Certain medical treatments, such as prostate surgery or radiation treatment for cancer

·         Injuries, particularly if they damage the nerves or arteries that control erections

·         Medications, including antidepressants, antihistamines and medications to treat high blood pressure, pain or prostate conditions

·         Psychological conditions, such as stress, anxiety or depression

·         Drug and alcohol use, especially if you're a long-term drug user or heavy drinker

Complication:

·         An unsatisfactory sex life

·         Stress or anxiety

·         Embarrassment or low self-esteem

·         Relationship problems

·         The inability to get your partner pregnant

Prevention:

·         Work with your doctor to manage diabetes, heart disease or other chronic health conditions.

·         Don't use illegal drugs.

·         See your doctor for regular checkups and medical screening tests.

·         Stop smoking

·         Exercise regularly.

·         Limit or avoid alcohol,

·         Take steps to reduce stress.

Diagnosis:

·         Physical exam. Careful examination of testiclesandpenis might be includedand checking the nerves sensation.

·         Blood tests. A sample of your blood might be sent to a lab to check for signs of heart disease, diabetes, low testosterone levels and other health conditions.

·         Urine tests (urinalysis).  Urine tests are used to look for other underlying health conditionsandsigns of diabetes.

·         Ultrasound.  It involves using a wandlike device (transducer) held over the blood vessels that supply the penis. It creates a video image to let your doctor see if you have blood flow problems.This test is usually performed by a specialist in an office.

·         Psychological exam. Your doctor might ask questions to screen for depression and other possible psychological causes of erectile dysfunction.

Treatment:Oral medications are a successful erectile dysfunction treatment for many men. They include:

·         Sildenafil

·         Tadalafil

·         Vardenafil

·         Avanafil

Other medications for erectile dysfunction include:

·         Alprostadil self-injection.  Alprostadilinjection will be injected by fine needle into the sideor base of your penis. In some cases, medications generally used for other conditions are used for penile injections on their own or in combination. Examples include papaverine, alprostadil and phentolamine.

·         Alprostadil urethral suppository. You use a special applicator to insert the suppository into your penile urethra. Placing a tiny alprostadil suppository inside your penis in the penile urethra. The erection usually starts within 10 minutes and, when effective, lasts between 30 and 60 minutes.

·         Testosterone replacement. Testosterone replacement therapy might be recommended as the first step or given in combination with other therapies.Some men have erectile dysfunction that might be complicated by low levels of the hormone testosterone.

Erectile dysfunction, impotence, times of stress