| Erectile dysfunction (ED), also called "male impotence," is the perennial inability to attain or keep an erection firm enough for copulation.
To trigger an erection, hormones, blood vessels, nerves, and muscles must all work together properly. An erection starts, as soon as the brain has sent nerve signals to the penis, providing that there is sexual stimulation. Touches may trigger this arousal. Another cause may be something a man sees or hears. It can also be a sexual thought or dream.
The nerve signals sent from the brain cause the muscles within the penis to relax, thereby allowing blood stream into the spongy tissue of the penis. Blood collects in this tissue like water filling a sponge. As a result, the penis enlarges and becomes firmer, like an inflated balloon. The veins in the penile area then close off to keep blood from flowing out.
There are several causes of ED. Most male sexual problems are caused by physical factors, such as vascular disorders, nerve disorders and abnormalities in the genital area.
In older males, it is usually due to a physical cause, including disease, injury, side effects of medications. Any disorder that brings on injury to the nerves or damages blood flow in the penis has the potential to trigger erectile dysfunction.
The incidence of ED raises with age. About 5% of 40-year-old males and 15% - 25% of 65-year-old men have erectile dysfunction. Still, it is not an irrevocable aspect of aging.
ED can be cured irrespective of age, and awareness of this fact has been increasing. More males have been seeking medical treatment and returning to regular intimate life because of updated efficient treatment options for erectile dysfunction. Some treatments include:
- Life-style changes (for example, losing excess weight, giving up smoking, and exercising more)
- Counseling
- Medicine (for instance, Viagra, Levitra, and Cialis)
- Vacuum therapy
- Implanted devices.
In infrequent cases, surgery on veins and arteries may be considered for erectile dysfunction treatment. The amount of research being done on drug therapies for erectile dysfunction treatment is expanding speedily. Patients should speak with their physician about the latest advances. |