Erectile dysfunction
What are the symptoms of Erectile dysfunction?
The patient with Erectile dysfunction can have the following symptoms:
- Failure to have an erection.
- Failure to maintain an erection.
- Reduced sexual desire.
- What causes Erectile dysfunction?
- An erection requires the interaction of your brain, nerves, hormones, and blood vessels. Anything that interferes with the normal process can lead to a problem.
Common causes of erection problems include:
- Diseases and conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart or thyroid conditions, poor blood flow, depression, or neurologic disorders (such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson's disease)
- Medications such as blood pressure medications (especially beta-blockers), heart medications (such as digoxin), some peptic ulcer medications, sleeping pills, a*d antidepressants
- Nerve damage from prostate surgery
- Nicotine, alcohol, or cocaine use
- Poor communication with your partner
- Repeated feelings of doubt and failure or negative communication that reinforce the erection problems
- Spinal cord injury
- Stress, fear, anxiety, or anger
- Unrealistic sexual expectations, which make sex a task rather than a pleasure
Who is at highest risk?
Erection problems tend to become more common as you age, but they can affect men at any age and at any time in their lives. Physical causes are more common in older men, while psychological causes are more common in younger men.
Low levels of testosterone rarely lead to erection problems, but may reduce a man's sex drive.
When to seek urgent medical care?
Call your doctor if:
- The problem does not go away with self-care measures -- effective treatments are available
- The problem begins after an injury or prostate surgery
- You have other symptoms like low back pain, abdominal pain, or change in urination
- If erection problems seem to be caused by a medication you are taking for an unrelated condition, consult your doctor. You may benefit from reducing the dose of the drug or changing to another drug that has the same result but not the same side effects. DO NOT change or stop taking any medications without first talking to your doctor.
Talk to your health care provider if your erection problems are related to fear of recurring heart problems. Sexual intercourse is usually safe in these circumstances.
Call your doctor immediately or go to an emergency room if medication for erection problems give you an unwanted erection that lasts more than 4 hours. Permanent impotence or other lasting damage to your penis may result from this condition.
Diagnosis
Your doctor will perform a physical examination, which will likely include:
- Checking your blood flow (circulation)
- Exam of your penis
- Neurological exam
- Rectal exam
Tests that may be done include:
- Blood tests, including complete blood count, metabolic panel, hormone profile, and PSA
- Neurological (nerve) testing
- Nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) to check for normal nighttime erections
- Penile ultrasound to check for blood vessel or blood flow problems
- Psychometric testing
- Rigidity monitoring
- Urine analysis
Treatment options
The treatment may depend on the cause. For example, if the problem is caused by a hormonal imbalance, medication to treat the underlying endocrine disorder will be prescribed. However, the same treatment may be used for many different causes. Consult your health care provider for appropriate evaluation and management.
Possible complications
As it decrease the sex drive, so it can cause
- An unsatisfactory sex life
- Stress or anxiety
- Low self-esteem
- Marital or relationship problems
- The inability to get your partner pregnant
Prevention
- Have a healthy lifestyle choices and to manage any existing health problems.
- Work with your doctor to manage diabetes, heart disease or other chronic health problems.
- See your doctor for regular checkups and medical screening tests.
- Stop smoking, limit or avoid alcohol, and don't use street drugs.
- Exercise regularly.
- Reduce stress if any.
- Get help for anxiety or depression.
- Dr Gerard Testa (Urologist)
- Dr Stuart Aitken (Sexual Health Physician)
- Assoc Prof Eric Chung (Consultant Urological Surgeon)
- Mr Lawrence Hayden (Urologist)
- Dr Scott Donnellan (Urologist)
- Dr Stuart Collins (Urologist)
- Dr Thomas Jarvis (Urologist)
- Dr Nicholas Redgrave (Urologist)
- Dr Jeffrey Thavaseelan (Urologist)
- Dr Justin Chee (Urologist)
- … further results
