Erectile dysfunction or impotence is the disability of getting an erection for sex. Some people may face this problem for some time but that’s not a big problem. Your body may act differently when you are dealing with any type of physical or environmental changes. But if the person is not getting erectile for a long time then this can be a big concern. A person dealing with erectile dysfunction may also get other issues like poor self-confidence, stress, relationship problems, etc. Instead of waiting, a person should seek treatment. Many people feel embarrassed to visit a doctor for ED, but early treatment can help in preventing lots of bigger problems.
What are the causes of erectile dysfunction?
A person can face ED due to various reasons. Due to ED, men face difficulty keeping the erection firm while having sex. The causes of ED can be both physical and emotional. Some common causes behind erectile dysfunction are:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Low testosterone level
- Hormonal imbalance
- Age
- Kidney diseases
- High cholesterol
- Stress
- Relationship problems
- Depression
- Sleep disorder
- Alcohol or tobacco consumption
- Multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson’s disease
- Drug abuse
Along with these factors, any damage to the pelvic area can cause erectile dysfunction.
How to diagnose erectile dysfunction?
There can be multiple steps to diagnose ED such as physical examination or other examinations regarding the sexual history etc.
Physical tests for ED
- Blood pressure checkup
- Testicles and penis checkup
- Cardio checkup
- Lungs checkup
- Rectal checkup
- Psychosocial questioning
Your doctor will ask you a few questions regarding your mental health and sexual history. The answers to those questions will help to know about the severity of your condition. Some of the common questions you may have to answer are:
- How long are you facing ED issues?
- Do ED symptoms appear gradually or suddenly?
- Are you facing problems with orgasm or ejaculating?
- How often do you have sex? Have there been any changes recently?
- Do you wake up in the morning or at night due to erections?
- Are you currently in a relationship?
- What are your expectations from your partner?
- Are you facing work or family stress?
- Do you drink or use tobacco?
- Have you been using any medicine recently?
- Do you change the surroundings like a new city or country?
- Have you done any surgeries in your pelvic area?
Other than these questions, your doctor may ask you more questions regarding your condition.
Some additional tests
The doctor may ask you to have some other tests to diagnose ED such as:
Injection test
A medication is injected into the penis to stimulate an erection. With this test, the doctor can evaluate the firmness of the erection and how long the erection lasts. You may also have to do an ultrasound with this test.
Nocturnal penile tumescence test
It is a portable drive worn on thighs to evaluate nocturnal erections. This device will store the data and then the doctor will check the data and analyze it.
Ultrasound
Your doctor may ask you to get an ultrasound to examine the blood vessels of the penis as a person can face ED due to penile blood flow.
Blood tests
Blood tests will show the conditions like heart diseases, diabetes, thyroid, testosterone level, etc.
Urine tests
This test will help to know diabetes and other health conditions.
Possible Treatments For Erectile Dysfunction
Medications
Lots of medications are available to treat ED. PDE type-5 inhibitors are used to increase penile blood flow. Some common medicines for ED are avanafil, tadalafil, sildenafil, vardenafil, etc. These medicines should be taken about 1-2 hours before having sex. The medicine will improve the blood flow to the penis. About 70% of men can perform better after taking these medicines. However, men with diabetes may have lower positive responses to these medicines. Some people may get side effects of these medicines such as headache, indigestion, facial flushing, muscle aches, etc.
Dynamic medications
Lots of dynamic medications are also available to treat erectile dysfunction. These medicines are a bit different from allopathic as they not only reduce ED symptoms but also treat the underlying causes. With erectile dysfunction treatment Pennsylvania, the condition can be fully recovered. Most medicines improve the physical and mental issues behind the problem. These remedies may take more time than other medications however they don’t have any harmful side effects.
Talk therapy
Lots of people face ED due to stress, relationship problems, or other mental issues. Talk therapy can help to improve the mental condition as well as ED. Your therapist will ask you a few questions regarding your mental condition. Several therapies are available to treat mental conditions. Your doctor may ask you and your partner to talk about relationships to reduce the issues. A person can get ED issues when his relationship is facing any hard phase. Talk to a relationship counselor and try to reconnect with your partner emotionally. Any kind of anxiety or PTSD can cause ED. The person has to treat his mental condition like stress or depression in order to fix ED.
Vacuum pumps
It is a device that slips over the penis making a seal. On another side, there is a pump that makes a low-pressure vacuum around the erectile tissues. The pump has an elastic ring that you have to move to the base of the penis. This ring is used to maintain the erection. The vacuum pump holds the blood in the penis and prevents it from returning.
Common ways to treat ED at home
Regular exercise
Physical activities are very helpful to treat ED. A person can get ED issues due to cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and various other conditions. However, regular exercise can help in treating all these conditions. If you are getting any symptoms of ED, start exercising daily. Medication can also help to manage your condition. When a person is facing erectile dysfunction due to stress, anxiety, or depression; meditation can help a lot.
Diet
Eating a healthy and balanced diet can help in reducing ED problems and maintaining sexual function. Some particular food items that are good for treating ED are legumes, nuts, fish, fruits, veggies, etc. Avoid alcohol and smoking as they can increase the ED symptoms.
Proper Sleep
Sleep is necessary to keep the body healthy. You may perform poorly while having sex if the body is unable to get proper rest. Working on the night shift can worsen your ED symptoms. Get good sleep so your body can get good relaxation. Your properly relaxed body will perform well during intimacy.