Erectile Dysfunction

What is erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction (ED), or impotence, is the inability to consistently initiate or keep an erection long enough to have satisfactory sex. To maintain an erection, blood must be able to flow into and stay in the penis until orgasm.

Men have problems with their erections once in a while. If ED occurs often, medical treatment may help.

ED can happen at any age, but is more common in men older than 65.

What causes erectile dysfunction?

The most common causes of ED are health problems that affect blood vessels and blood flow in the penis. These include hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), which is linked to diabetes, obesity, smoking, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Therefore, ED may be a sign of heart disease or other serious health problems.

Other common causes of ED include:

Drugs

Examples are medications (antidepressants and drugs to treat high blood pressure, pain, or prostate cancer), alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs.

Lack of sexual desire

This can result from depression, anxiety, brain diseases such as stroke, and low testosterone (the male sex hormone).

Nerve damage

Damage to the nerves that deliver signals from the brain to the penis can occur due to diabetes, multiple sclerosis (MS) spinal cord injuries, pelvic or prostate surgery, radiation therapy, or pelvic trauma.

Hormone imbalance

Low testosterone, high prolactin, and abnormal thyroid hormone levels can cause ED.

Chronic kidney and liver disease

These diseases affect blood vessels, nerves, and hormone levels

How do doctors find the cause of erectile dysfunction?

If you have been having ED for more than two months, you should see a doctor to find the cause. To detect the cause of ED, your doctor will take a history of when you started to have problems with erections and sex drive, illnesses or injuries that could cause ED, and any recent physical or emotional changes in your life. You also will need to review all the medications you take. The evaluation most often includes a physical exam.

Depending on the results, your doctor may also order blood tests for hormones, fasting blood glucose (sugar), and cholesterol. Your doctor may also test for liver and kidney. Rarely, some men need special tests to check nerve function, blood vessels, and blood flow.

How is erectile dysfunction treated?

Treatment for ED will depend on the cause and how serious your condition is. Treatment options can include the following:

Medicine

Oral medication

Three effective drugs – sildenafil, vardenafil, and talafadil – work by increasing blood flow to the penis during sexual stimulation

Penile therapies

Medications injected into the penis or inserted into the urethra to increase blood flow may work when oral medications do not.

Testosterone replacement therapy

Testosterone can be replaced through injections, skin patches, gels, or tablets placed between the cheek and gums.

Devices and surgery

• Vacuum device. An external plastic cylinder and vacuum pump pulls blood into the penis and causes an erection. Sometimes, men need to place an elastic ring around the base of the penis to prevent blood from flowing back into the body
• Penile implants. Penile implants (rigid or inflatable types) are used for the rare patient who does not respond well to other treatments
• Vascular surgery. Young men who have a problem with penile blood flow sometimes may need surgery to correct the problem

Psychological counseling

• If a relationship or an emotional problem is the cause of your ED, your doctor may suggest that you and your partner see a sex therapist

Dietary supplements are unproven treatments for ED, and some contain harmful ingredients.

All treatment options have risks. Finding the right treatment for you may take several tries. Your doctor will work with you to find the best treatment option for you. If the cause of your ED is a hormone imbalance, your doctor might refer you to an endocrinologist (an expert in hormone-related conditions).

Questions to ask your doctor

• What is the cause or causes of my ED?
• What are my treatment options?
• What are the risks and benefits of each of these treatments?
• Should I see a specialist? e.g. urologist or endocrinologist