Erectile Dysfunction (Impotence)

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common sexual problem in men. It refers to the consistent inability of a man to achieve or maintain an erection long enough to complete satisfactory sexual intercourse. It is estimated that erectile dysfunction affects at least 1 in 10 men.

Erectile Dysfunction Causes

The male erectile function can be influenced by various causes and activities that could either be psychological, physical or a combination of both.

Physiological causes of erectile dysfunction include:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Hardening of the arteries, which can lead to high blood pressure, angina or poor circulation
• Kidney disorders
• Multiple sclerosis or other neurological diseases
• Smoking
• Alcoholism and drug abuse
• Pelvic surgery
• The side effects of prescription drugs

Psychological factors are primarily responsible for erectile dysfunction in young men and it’s often related to anxiety towards performance. It can affect men of all ages. Some of the frequently reported psychological causes include:

• Stress and anxiety from work or home
• Relationship problems
• Worrying about poor sexual satisfaction
• Performance anxiety
• Depression
• Sexual boredom
• Unresolved sexual orientation
• Guilt caused due to infidelity

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Erectile Dysfunction Treatments

Erectile dysfunction is a treatable condition, though treatment will depend on the causes of your erectile dysfunction. Oral drug treatments have revolutionised the treatment of ED over the last 12 years- they help men to produce an erection in response to sexual stimulation. They don’t work for everybody, but they do work for the majority – even for diabetics as well as people with neurological and spinal problems.

Because of extraordinary advancements in medical science, we now have effective oral medications for impotence treatment. 3 medications have been approved for the treatment of erectile dysfunction; they are Viagra, Levitra and Cialis. All 3 impotence pills belong to the same class of medicines, called PDE5 inhibitors, and work in more or less the same way, however there are certain distinguishable variations.

Prescription treatment

Viagra, was the first drug to receive approval for the treatment of erectily dysfunction and came on to the market in 1998. For the first time, treating erectile dysfunction was as easy as taking a tablet. This medication gave men the chance to enjoy a prolonged erection, long enough to complete satisfactory sexual intercourse. However, for this pill to become effective, it must be taken about an hour prior to anticipated sexual activity. Levitra and Cialis were launched in 2003, about 3 months apart. While Viagra and Levitra remain active in your body for about the same amount of time, Cialis remains effective for as much as 36 hours.

Alternative treatment

Other drug treatments include the use of erection-inducing agents such as: injections into the penis and pellets inserted down the urinary pipe. However since the introduction of prescription erectile dysfunction pills, these methods have become less popular as they are much more invasive than oral treatment.

Surgery is also available for erectile dysfunction. Surgery is performed to cure a venous leak or or to place an internal splint in the penis to lift the penis permanently. The surgical method is, however, expensive and there is considerable risk involved. Apart from surgery, there are some mechanical aids such as vacuum pumps and penis rings that work promisingly in cases of ED. These treatments help men achieve a better erection and have successful sex.

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