What is erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction is the inability to achieve and maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual intercourse. Once the breach was known by the name of impotence. Today, the term is rarely used, is deprecated, and having the convictions subtext.

Erectile dysfunction appears in different forms:

  • as persistent inability to achieve an erection
  • as the inability to achieve erection sufficient for penetration
  • as the failure preserve an erection long enough to successfully complete sexual intercourse
Erectile Dysfunction

How common is erectile dysfunction

Many men experience problems with erection. Some of these problems are not expressed and do not occur frequently, and some expressed clearly and frequently recur.

one in ten men aged 18 to 40 years are experiencing erectile dysfunction

every second man aged between 40 and 70 years experience erectile dysfunction

These are the statistics from doctors. A lot of medicines and products (dietary Supplements) for the treatment of ED is bought without a prescription or consult a doctor of this statistic impossible to calculate.

There are two main types of erectile dysfunction:

primary – an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse never occurred,

secondary – previously, the patient had normal erection, but nowadays 25% of the time or more often erection not sufficient to perform sexual intercourse.

Erectile dysfunction is one of the main indicators of men's health. In Russia, the prevalence of this disease is somewhat broader, andnbsp,compared to other industrialized countries, because in Russia high level of a traumatism, alcoholism, tobacco Smoking. An important factor in the development of ED, are also the stress that leads to depression, feelings of sadness, reduced libido. The incidence of ED in smokers are 15-20% higher than non-smokers.

Causes of erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction is most often caused by organic causes. The reasons can also be psychogenic or mixed (a combination of organic and psychogenic causes).

Psychogenic erectile dysfunction often occurs in men at a young age, they are more prone to stress at work, depression, conflicts in the family.

The risk of erectile dysfunction also increases with excessive alcohol consumption, Smoking and overweight.

Causes of erectile dysfunction (Russia):

  • psychogenic (40%)
  • organic (29%)
  • combined (25%)
  • unknown causes (6%)
Erectile Dysfunction

This statistic reflects the fact that in Russia, men are much more prone to stress, which directly influences their sexual health.

Psychogenic form is divided into two types: generalized and situationally dependent.

Generalized form is the result of a primary deficiency of sexual desire, decrease in sexual desire (associated with aging), permanent depression libido.

Situation form can be associated:

  • with a partner (lack of sexual desire in a certain situation, because of the sexual preferences of the partners, fear conflict with a partner),
  • directly with sexual intercourse (rapid ejaculation, syndrome of expectation of failure),
  • depressed mood or stress.

Diseases and medications that can cause erectile dysfunction

Diseases that commonly cause erectile dysfunction:

  • atherosclerosis
  • hypertension
  • diabetes
  • hormonal dysfunction
  • obesity
  • inflammatory and infectious diseases of the genitourinary system (cystitis, pyelonephritis, epididymitis, prostatitis, abscess),
  • injuries to the groin area, transferred surgical intervention on the organs located in the pelvis
  • spinal injury
  • multiple sclerosis,
  • Parkinson's disease
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Medications that can cause or worsen erectile dysfunction:

  • drugs affecting the heart and blood vessels (to treat high blood pressure, digitalis preparations)
  • psychotropic drugs (antipsychotics, antidepressants, anxiolytics)
  • other medications (e.g., finasteride to treat an enlarged prostate, antiepileptic)

The symptoms of erectile dysfunction.

The reasons for the development of erectile dysfunction can be different, but the symptoms of this disease manifests itself is always the same. Upon detection of the first symptoms should seek help from a specialist, often the symptoms of erectile dysfunction are also markers of other diseases.

Common symptoms of erectile dysfunction:

  • weakening of erection: in the morning weak erect penis, even during sexual intercourse he does not become firm enough
  • during intercourse, the penis loses its hardness, which makes it possible to bring it to the end,
  • ejaculation happens when weak erection or it happens prematurely
  • complete or partial lack of erection during sexual intercourse.

Diagnosis of erectile dysfunction.

  • Talk with a specialist, completion of the questionnaire, the specialist must collect information about the migrated surgical interventions on the organs of the urinary and reproductive systems, the rectum, on a long reception of medicines and abuse of alcohol,
  • At the beginning of a survey to assess the status of cardiovascular, nervous, endocrine and reproductive system,
  • It is necessary to exclude serious disease such as diabetes mellitus, hypogonadism, hypertension, atherosclerosis, renal failure, neurological and mental disorders
  • The next step will be a thorough examination by a specialist: the examination of the body of the penis, prostate cancer (to the exclusion of the adenoma, prostatitis, tumors, cancer), the measurement of testicle size (the smaller the size, the less male hormone is produced). You should also examine sexual reflexes to rule out neurological causes of impotence,
  • Holding intracavernosal vasoactive test. To determine the vascularity of the penis used drugs in the test dosage, this method evaluates the blood flow in the vessels of the penis,
  • Recording of nocturnal erections. Monitoring of nocturnal spontaneous erections is carried out for differential diagnosis of organic and psychogenic forms of ED, normally the man should happen 5-6 erections per night,
  • Determination of fasting levels of blood glucose, lipid profile, total testosterone,
  • Doppler ultrasound of the arteries of the penis.
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Prevention of erectile dysfunction.

So the erection was stable, and sexual health is preserved for many years and no problems should:

  • Increase your physical activity, the best option is to Jogging, the pool, the contrast shower. More likely to be outdoors.
  • To adhere to proper nutrition. Do not eat fatty foods, which contributes to the accumulation of excess weight and as a result, leads to erectile dysfunction. Products increase potency: peanuts, pistachios, oranges, lemons, pomegranates, onions, dairy foods, meat, fish, shellfish, shrimp, other crustaceans.
  • To waive or reduce the consumption of strong coffee and tea.
  • Limit alcohol intake, stop Smoking and drugs.
  • To get rid of psychological stress, anxiety, stop fighting with your partner, don't focus on past failures.
  • Monitor blood pressure, because pressure is one of the main reasons for the development of erectile dysfunction
  • Do not take without the advice of a doctor drugs, since some affect the potency.
  • To abandon or close-fitting underwear. Synthetic underwear, especially tight lead to overheating, as a consequence of the worsening of ovarian, prostate, and result in reduced potency. You need to wear loose underwear made of natural fabrics.
  • Conduct regular sex life. The more often a man has sex (optimally 2-3 times per week), the less often you have problems with potency. Regular ejaculations are a good prevention of swelling of the prostate.