Erectile dysfunction, Penile disorders, Ejaculation, Sexual disorders

Description :   Erectile dysfunction, also known as impotence, is when a man is unable to reach or maintain penile

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What is erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction, also known as impotence, is when a man is unable to reach or maintain penile erection enough for satisfactory sexual performance. It can be consistent or happen recurrently.  It can affect the ability to have an erection, ejaculate or experience orgasm. Even if in some cases, mostly among young men, it may be due to some underlying psychological issues, in other people it may be due to other medical conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure. Hence, erectile dysfunction may be the first remarkable symptom for other diseases that require treatment.

Erectile dysfunction can cause huge distress and have negative effects on the patient’s self-esteem and relationships. It is a condition that affects almost 50% of men aged older than 40 years. Penile erections occur following the integration of several processes in the man’s body and involves different organ systems at once. If one of these organ systems are affected, erectile dysfunction may ensue.

It is important to make the diagnosis of erectile dysfunction as this may be revealing some other serious diseases or cause various complications such as anxiety and depression. There are treatments available for erectile dysfunction varying from sexual counselling to oral or injected medications and surgery.

Causes and risk factors of erectile dysfunction

There are several factors that can cause erectile dysfunction. These include:

·         Vascular diseases: Problems with the vascular system accounts for around 50% of all the cases of erectile dysfunction. These problems may include obstruction of blood vessels with cholesterol plaques (atherosclerosis), obstruction of blood vessels supplying the heart (myocardial infarction) or high blood pressure. Damage to the blood vessels and nerves in the penis may happen after radiation therapy to the prostate and pelvis, which is a treatment for cancer. This can induce erectile dysfunction.

·         Trauma: Trauma to the pelvis can cause damage to the blood vessels and nerves in that area. An example may be due to long periods of bicycle riding.

·         Diabetes mellitus: Studies have shown that diabetes is an important risk factor for erectile dysfunction. This may be due to constant high blood sugar which causes damage to blood vessels and nerves found in the penis. Strict control of blood sugar levels can significantly decrease the risk.

·         Abnormal cholesterol levels: Studies have shown that having a low amount of high-density lipoprotein (good cholesterol) can increase your risk of having erectile dysfunction.

·         Sleep disorders: Men with obstructive sleep apnoea are more prone to have erectile dysfunction.

·         Endocrine disorders: In some cases, erectile dysfunction may be due to inadequate secretion of hormones (substances released in the body to carry out specific functions) responsible for proper erectile function. These include testosterone and thyroid hormones.

·         Penile problems: Some diseases may cause abnormalities in the penis such as scarring or curvature. If the tissue in the penis is scarred, blood can no longer flow properly in the organ to initiate normal erection.

·         Mental health disorders: Certain mental health problems can lead to erectile dysfunction. These include depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

·         Prostate surgery: Erectile dysfunction may arise in some people undergoing prostate surgery. This may be due to damage to nerves during the surgical procedure.

·         Medications: Erectile dysfunction may also be a side effect of certain prescribed medications. Some examples include psychotropic drugs and antihypertensive agents.

·         Lifestyle: Lack of exercise, obesity and smoking can all cause erectile dysfunction. You are approximately 2 times more at risk of the condition if you smoke compared to non-smokers.

Sign and symptoms

Erectile dysfunction usually present with typical symptoms including:

·         Difficulty to have an erection

·         Having an erection not suitable for penetration

·         Inability to maintain erection until the partner has achieved orgasm

·         Premature or delayed ejaculation

·         Inability for you and your partner to experience sexual satisfaction

Your doctor will ask you a series of questions concerning your problem. These may include:

·         Are you able to get an erection which enables penetration even if it is for a short period of time?

·         Is your    Read more