Males with erectile problems hesitate to talk to their urologist, seeing it as an embarrassing issue. However, urologists deal with these sexual problems in their private clinics and guide you with numerous treatment options available to treat this condition. This article is helpful for those who are experiencing this problem or close to it.
What is ED (erectile dysfunction) and facts about erectile dysfunction
When a man finds difficulty in achieving and maintaining an erection, this problem is called erectile dysfunction. The erectile problem develops when there is not enough blood supply to the penile muscles or when muscles do not function properly to trap and release blood in the penis (male reproductive organ).
Signs of ED are usually noticeable when you experience:
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- Being unable to achieve an erection when needed
- Achieving an erection but it doesn’t last long for satisfaction or discharge early without meeting the needs.
This condition has a direct impact on the person and his partner’s life. The reasons for erectile dysfunction are usually medical but can also be psychological as well. There are some prescription medications, recreational drugs, smoking, and alcohol can all give rise to erection problems in men.
The main cause of an erection problem:
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- Medical – This includes health conditions or anatomical changes that prevent the male reproductive organ from becoming erect or staying firm.
- Psychological – This may include issues within a relationship or workplace stress.
Sometimes, both causes may overlap; for example, if an individual is obese, changes in the blood flow can affect his ability to achieve and keep an erection; he may also feel less confident and psychologically weak due to body weight, which can also affect ED.
Causes of erectile dysfunction
Erection issues, develop problems with any of the following systems:
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- Nerve supply
- Blood supply
- Hormones
Physical causes of erection problem
For men who have trouble getting and maintaining an erect penis for satisfactory sexual intercourse at some point in their lives, being stressed, tired, or consuming excess alcohol can result in a short-term problem. A temporary problem is not as equal as erectile dysfunction. If your erection problem persists for a long time and interferes with your normal sex life, you should seek immediate medical help. It is always worth consulting a urologist about persistent erection problems as a serious disease could cause it. The physical reason is a common reason for developing ED. Some of a few are as follows:
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- Diabetes
- Neurological disease
- Cardiovascular disorders
- High blood pressure and high cholesterol
- Lack of exercise or being inactive
- Injury or surgery to the pelvic area
- Drug or alcohol abuse
- Long-term smoking history
- Some prescription medications
Other issues that may cause ED include:
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- Depression
- Financial problems
- Stress or anxiety
- Having problems within a relationship
- Worry about failing to achieve erection to satisfy the partner
Atherosclerosis is a common cause of problems associated with blood flow. The condition leads to the narrowing of arteries in the male reproductive organ, preventing blood flow for a penile erection.
Many prescription medications are also responsible for causing erection problems in men, including the following:
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- Medications to control high blood pressure
- Some diuretics
- Medications that directly act on the central nervous system (CNS) of the body, including amphetamines and sleeping pills
- Anxiolytics for anxiety treatments
- Digoxin to treat heart conditions
- Cancer drugs such as chemotherapeutic agents
- Anticholinergics
- Hormone drugs
- Opioid painkillers
- Antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
- Drugs used for prostate treatment
- Cimetidine, a peptic ulcer medication
- Physical causes impact around 90% of ED cases, and psychological issues are much less common.
Psychological causes of ED
The following list summarizes some of the psychological causes that occur in rare cases:
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- Fear of intimacy
- Severe anxiety
- Guilt
- Depression
Most cases of ED are physical; very less commonly, psychological factors contribute to erection issues.
Treatment for ED
A urologist will prescribe you the best ED meds to treat the problem that will help you get an erection. These erectile dysfunction drugs include oral medications or injections that are injected into the penis. Patients suffering from ED may get any of the following erectile dysfunction medications:
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- Sildenafil
- Tadalafil
- Vardenafil
- Avanafil
All these drugs for erectile dysfunction cure act by relaxing smooth muscles and increasing blood supply into the reproductive organ.
Also Read: Six Natural Ways to Treat Erectile Dysfunction
