ED or Erectile Dysfunction is a type of sexual dysfunction that is characterized by the inability to sustain or attain an erection that is strong enough satisfactory sexual performance. It also interferes with other sexual activity.
At times, experts refer to it as impotence. It is a common problem among males because many of them report to experiencing the problem at one point or another. Several factors cause it including:
- Stress
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Smoking
- Chronic illness
- Medication
- Injuries
- Being overweight or obese
- Fatigue
- Reduced blood flow to the penis
- Old age
- Anxiety
- Hormones
- Relationship problems, etc.
Types of Erectile Dysfunction and Their Symptoms
Different kinds of ED can affect the sexual lives of men such as:
- Primary impotence- it occurs when a man has never had an erection, and there are no chances that he will achieve one spontaneously. Physical abnormalities on the penis are the primary cause of this. Sometimes, surgery can treat the condition.
- Secondary Impotence- these happen to a man who has enjoyed full erections, but at some point suffers from ED.
III. Total Impotence- during this time, a man does not get any erections. He will not even experience the early morning ones.
- Partial impotence- when one suffers from this type, he will experience a stiff penis that becomes floppy soon after. It is safe to conclude that the penis becomes semi-rigid in such a case.
- Situational impotence- with this, a man can only rise to the occasion in particular situations. For instance, he can achieve an erection while masturbating but not with their sexual partner.
Symptoms that patients usually experience include:
- Penile erections that are not strong enough for penetration.
- Erections that occur during the initial stages of sex lets say during foreplay, but the situation does not remain the same to complete intercourse.
- Incapacity to achieve any penile erection.
- Ejaculating or even achieving orgasms while having ED.
Treatment
It is wise to see a doctor when:
- The erection problem lasts for a few weeks. Worth noting is that the persistence can also be early warning signs of more potentially dangerous or more general conditions like atherosclerosis which occurs through the narrowing of the penile artery. It can also cause heart disease.
- A man experiences penile curvature or pain with erection issues.
- When ED is linked to anxiety or it reaches a point where it is threatening your sexual relationship.
Doctors can help out a great deal in regards to clearing misinformation which often makes the sexual problems worse.
Medical experts carry out various tests to determine the proper treatment for the condition. These can include different health tests as well as a physical examination and laboratory tests.
Doctors usually prescribe medication to help patients with ED symptoms. It is not uncommon for a person to try different medication before identifying the one that is most effective.
In most cases, professionals recommend that affected individuals take the pills about 30-60 minutes before engaging in sex. Examples of medications that treat erectile dysfunction by stimulating blood flow to the penis include:
- Viagra (sildenafil
- Caverject (alprostadil)
- Stendra (avanafil)
- Levitra (vardenafil)
- Cialis (tadalafil)
- Androderm (testosterone)
