| Erectile dysfunction (ED), also called impotence, is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection until ejaculation. Erectile dysfunction is different from other conditions that intervene with sex life, such as lack of sexual desire and problems with ejaculation and orgasm.
Male sexual dysfunction varies in severity: some males suffer from a total inability to attain an erection, others have an inconsistent ability to achieve an erection, and still others can maintain only brief erections. The variations in severity of erectile dysfunction make it difficult to estimate its frequency. A lot of men are also unwilling to talk about erectile dysfunction with their doctors, and thus the disease is under-diagnosed. However, 30 million men in the USA are estimated to suffer from ED.
While ED can happen in all age groups, it is uncommon in young men and more common in the elderly. By the age of 45, the majority of men have faced ED at least several times. However, if it becomes chronic, it can have adverse effects on relationships, emotional health, and self-esteem.
Within the past decades, the medical perspective on the causes of impotence has shifted. Impotence was commonly believed to be brought on by psychological problems. At present specialists assume that up to 85% of ED cases are triggered by medical or physical problems. They include vascular problems, hypertension, diabetes, neurological disease and other medical conditions. Some of the medicines used to cure these medical conditions can also bring on erectile dysfunction. Only 15% of ED cases are based on psychological factors. They include anxiety, depression, strain, and problems in relationships. At times impotence is due to a combination of physical and psychological problems. Life-style can adversely influence males' sexual well-being and virility, too. Smoking, alcohol use, and other substance abuse can increase the risk of ED.
Substantial progress in science has helped increase the number of options to cure erectile dysfunction effectively. Drug therapy of PDE5 inhibitors is the principal treatment for the disease. Sildenafil (Viagra), vardenafil (Levitra) and tadalafil (Cialis) are the three drugs approved for treatment of impotence in males by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The blue little pills were initially invented to treat blood vessel disorders and preclude heart attacks. It was discovered that the pills could dilate blood arteries. Angina or chest pain was believed to relieve if more red blood cells carrying oxygen were delivered to heart muscle cells through the dilated coronary arteries. Not only were cardiac vessels dilated, but so were blood vessels in other places. This side-effect was taken into consideration when remedies for ED were being developed.
Along with the drug therapy, there are other treatments. The cause of sexual disorder and a man's lifestyle determine the treatment a medical practitioner gives preference to. |