ED is a disorder that prevents you from achieving or sustaining a hard enough erection for satisfactory sexual activity. ED can be a short-term or long-term problem. You have ED when you

• can get an erection sometimes, but not every time you want to have sex
• can get an erection, but it does not last long enough for fulfilling or satisfactory sex
• are unable to get an erection at any time

Medical personnel, including general practitioners and urologists, are usually able to handle erectile dysfunction. ED, or erectile dysfunction, is very typical but not a natural part of the process of aging. Consult with a medical practitioner if you are experiencing any signs of erectile dysfunction. Erectile Dysfunction might be an indication of a serious medical issue.

It may be awkward and hard to discuss erectile dysfunction with a medical practitioner. One should keep in mind that a good sexual life can enhance one’s wellbeing and is an aspect of an overall healthy lifestyle. Medical personnel, particularly urologists, are taught to discuss numerous types of sexual issues with patients.

Does erectile dysfunction have another name?

Erectile Dysfunction is no longer typically referred to as impotence, as health care professionals have decided that this term may cause confusion with its other, nonmedical definitions.

How common is erectile dysfunction?

ED is very common. Roughly 30 million male individuals in the US are impacted by it.

Who is more likely to develop erectile dysfunction?

You are more likely to develop ED if you

• are older
• have certain diseases or conditions
• take certain medicines
• have certain psychological or emotional issues
• have certain health-related factors or behaviors, such as overweight or smoking

What are the complications of erectile dysfunction?

Complications of ED may include

• an unfulfilled sex life
• a loss of intimacy between you and a partner, resulting in a strained relationship
• depression NIH external link, anxiety NIH external link, and low self-esteem
• being unable to get a partner pregnant

Mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem can have a significant impact on ED, leading to a perpetuating cycle of adverse health effects.

Symptoms & Causes

What are the symptoms of erectile dysfunction?

Symptoms of ED include

• being able to get an erection sometimes, but not every time you want to have sex
• being able to get an erection, but not having it last long enough for sex
• being unable to get an erection at any time

Erectile Dysfunction can often be indicative of an underlying medical issue or something pertaining to one’s physical health.

What causes erectile dysfunction?

Several elements that influence your vascular system, nervous system, and endocrine system as identified by the NIH external link can lead to or be part of the cause of ED (Erectile Dysfunction).

As you get older, your chances of having erectile dysfunction become greater, but growing older alone is not the cause of it. ED can be treated at any age.

Certain diseases and conditions

The following diseases and conditions can lead to ED:

• type 2 diabetes
• heart and blood vessel disease NIH external link
• atherosclerosis
• high blood pressure
• chronic kidney disease
• multiple sclerosis NIH external link
• Peyronie’s disease
• injury from treatments for prostate cancer NIH external link, including radiation therapy and prostate surgery
• injury to the penis, spinal cord, prostate, bladder, or pelvis
• surgery for bladder cancer NIH external link

Diabetic individuals are approximately two to three times more probable to experience erectile dysfunction in comparison to people who do not have diabetes. Read more about diabetes and sexual and urologic problems.

Taking certain medicines

Erectile Dysfunction can be a consequence of taking a variety of widely-used medications.

• blood pressure medicines NIH external link
• antiandrogens—medicines used for prostate cancer therapy NIH external link
• antidepressants NIH external link
• tranquilizers, or prescription sedatives—medicines that make you calmer or sleepy
• appetite suppressants, or medicines that make you less hungry
• ulcer medicines

Check a catalogue of individual medications that may result in erectile dysfunction at the National Institutes of Health external link.

Certain psychological or emotional issues

Psychological or emotional factors may make ED worse. You may develop ED if you have one or more of the following:

• fear of sexual failure
• anxiety NIH external link
• depression NIH external link
• guilt about sexual performance or certain sexual activities
• low self-esteem
• stress—about sexual performance, or stress in your life in general

Certain health-related factors and behaviors

The following health-related factors and behaviors may contribute to ED:

• smoking
• drinking too much alcohol
• using illegal drugs
• being overweight
• not being physically active

Prevention

What steps can I take to prevent erectile dysfunction?

By taking proactive steps, you can reduce the chances of developing erectile dysfunction.

Quit smoking

If you smoke, get help quitting External link. There is a connection between smoking and heart and circulatory system illnesses according to NIH (National Institutes of Health) outside link, which can cause erectile dysfunction. Even when uncontrolled conditions for heart and circulatory system issues and other potential causes of ED are considered, smoking still raises the likelihood that you will experience ED.

Follow a healthy eating plan

To keep up an ability to have an erection, pick foods made with whole-grains, lower-fat dairy products, fruits and veggies, and lean kinds of meat. Stay away from foods that are high in fat, particularly saturated fat, and salt. Eat healthily in order to strive towards a desirable weight, and to maintain proper blood pressure and manage diabetes. Managing your hypertension and diabetes may assist in avoiding erectile dysfunction.

Also, avoid drinking too much alcohol. Consider consulting a counselor who is knowledgeable in helping those struggling with excessive alcohol consumption, as suggested by the National Institutes of Health.

Maintain a healthy weight to prevent diabetes and high blood pressure

Sustaining an appropriate weight can assist in delaying the onset of diabetes and reducing your blood pressure. Discuss with your physician strategies to avert diabetes—or regulating it if you already possess the condition. Get regular checkups to measure your blood pressure.

Speak to your medical practitioner regarding how to safely shed extra pounds if you want to slim down. Request a recommendation to a nutritionist who can assist you in creating nutritious meals to shed pounds External link. Dropping pounds can minimize inflammation, improve testosterone NIH external link levels, and boost self-confidence, all of which may help protect against ED. If you are at your ideal weight for your height, make sure it stays that way by eating a nutritious diet and exercising regularly.

Be physically active

Exercising boosts the circulation of blood throughout your body, including the penis. Consult a medical specialist prior to beginning any new activities. For those just starting out, it is recommended to take it easy and start with activities like going for a leisurely stroll or doing some gardening. It is possible to begin with simpler exercises, then move on to more strenuous activities like quickly walking or swimming. Try to be active for at least half an hour most days of the week.

Avoid using illegal drugs

Illegally taking drugs could stop you from getting an erection or maintaining one. As an example, certain outlawed substances may make it difficult for you to become aroused or experience other sensations. Illegal substances may hide psychological, emotional, or physical causes of ED that may exist. Discuss with your medical professional if you feel that you need assistance with substance abuse according to the National Institute of Health.

What is the treatment for ED will be based on the root cause of the issue. The various treatments for erectile dysfunction are outlined below.

Treating underlying conditions

If your difficulty with getting or maintaining an erection is due to an underlying health problem like heart disease or diabetes, those conditions will need to be addressed before treating your erectile dysfunction. In certain instances, attending to the foundational cause could clear up the issue.

If you are taking a drug that could lead to sexual dysfunction, there could possibly be another option. You should never discontinue any medication you have been prescribed unless specifically instructed to do so by your doctor or another medical professional managing your care.

Lifestyle changes

Erectile dysfunction can often be improved by making changes to your lifestyle, such as:

Making these modifications can not only assist in lessening the symptoms of erectile dysfunction, but also in improving your overall health and possibly reducing the possibility of heart and vessel-related issues.

Vacuum pumps

A container made from transparent plastic, connected to either a manual or electric pump, is what constitutes a vacuum pump.

Insert your penis into the tube and expel all of the existing air. This produces a space in which blood rushes to the penis, causing it to become erect. You fit a rubber band to the bottom of your penis to keep it engorged, permitting you to stay erect for around a half-hour.

It could take a few tries to master the operation of the pump, but it typically works well. Approximately 90% of men are able to engage in sexual activity after utilizing a vacuum pump regardless of what has caused their erectile dysfunction.

Alprostadil

If PDE-5 inhibitors or a vacuum pump do not improve your erectile dysfunction, or you do not wish to use them, a medication referred to as alprostadil may be given to you. This is an artificial hormone which increases the circulation of blood to the male sex organ.

Alprostadil is available as:

• an injection directly into your penis – this is called an intracavernosal injection
• a small pellet placed inside your urethra (the tube that carries urine from your bladder to the tip of your penis) – this is called urethral application

You may be taught how to properly give an injection of alprostadil. If your significant other is expecting, it is important to put on a condom during intercourse if you are introducing alprostadil into your urethra.

Typically, an erection will occur within a period of five to 15 minutes after taking Alprostadil. The duration of the erection will be determined by the amount of the dose.

In 85 out of 100 men who had not had a positive reaction to PDE-5 inhibitors, alprostadil injections proved successful. Around two-thirds of men have had positive outcomes from the introduction of Alprostadil in to their urethra.

Hormone therapy

A doctor may refer you to an endocrinologist (who has special knowledge of treating hormonal issues) if your erectile dysfunction is the result of a hormonal imbalance.

Hormones are chemicals produced by the body. Synthetic hormones can be injected to correct certain hormone imbalances and bring hormone levels back to normal.

Surgery

If other methods of addressing erectile dysfunction have been unsuccessful, then surgery may be suggested as an option. It may also be considered in:

• younger men who have experienced serious injury to their pelvic area – for example, in a car accident
• men with a significant anatomical problem with their penis

Previously, surgery was employed if it was clear that the penis’s blood flow had become hindered. The surgeon could remove the obstruction in the blood vessels to bring back a regular flow of blood. Studies have indicated that the outcomes of this kind of surgery over the long run are unsatisfactory, so it’s unlikely to be a preferred choice.

Psychological treatments

If you’re dealing with a psychological reason for your difficulty maintaining an erection, then a form of treatment known as sensate focus may be of help.

If anxiety or depression are the root of your erectile dysfunction, talking therapy may provide you with some relief.

Sensate focus

Couples sex therapy using sensate focus is an activity that both partners engage in. You and your partner promise to abstain from sexual activity for a predetermined amount of time, ranging from a few weeks to a few months. During this period, you are still allowed to make physical contact with one another, just not in the genital region (or a female’s chest). Discover your body’s sensations without the intention of engaging in sexual activity.

Once the designated amount of time has elapsed, it is permissible to start lightly caressing each other’s intimate parts. You can also begin to use your mouth to touch your partner, for example, licking or kissing, them. This can build up to include penetrative sex.

The College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists (COSRT) has additional information about sensate focus.

Psychosexual counselling

Psychosexual counselling is a form of therapy focused on relationships where people can talk through any emotional or sexual matters which can be a cause of their erectile dysfunction. Discussing your concerns can help you to alleviate your worries and get over your erectile dysfunction.

A counsellor can also offer you helpful tips on how to get the most out of treatments for erectile dysfunction in order to enhance your intimate life.

Psychosexual counseling can take a while to produce results, and the outcomes may vary.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

CBT, a type of counselling, may be beneficial if you are dealing with erectile dysfunction. The belief that your emotions are linked to your thoughts is the basis of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. CBT assists in the understanding that difficulty is frequently a product of one’s thought patterns. The cause of your unhappiness is not the circumstances themselves, but instead your perspective on them and how you handle them.

Your CBT therapist can help you to identify any unhelpful or unrealistic thoughts that may be contributing to your erectile dysfunction – for example, to do with:

• your self-esteem (the way you feel about yourself)
• your sexuality
• your personal relationships

Your CBT counselor can guide you in forming thoughts that are more sensible and advantageous in terms of these problems.