An erection occurs when blood fills the penis. Normally, when a man becomes sexually aroused, blood vessels, muscles, nerves, and hormones work together to create an erection. Symptoms of ED can occur when this process is disrupted.
Treatment options for ED have evolved considerably over the past decade to encompass psychological counseling; oral, topical, intraurethral, and intracavernosal vasoactive therapy; oral therapies with other or unknown mechanisms; hormone replacement; vacuum constriction devices; and surgery, including vascular bypass procedures and penile implants. The goal of treatment is to restore satisfactory erections with minimal adverse effects. Men have demonstrated a strong preference for oral treatments even if they have low efficacy.
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In spite of this if you are having any comorbidity or if you are suffering from some serious illness, you are advised to consult your physician before starting the pills.
The doctor will perform a complete physical examination, to check for abnormalities in the penis, scrotum, and testicles. To check for heart disease the doctor will take your blood pressure, measure your heart rate, and order a blood test to check your level of cholesterol. Your doctor will do a digital rectal examination to feel the size, shape, and consistency of the prostate, and if necessary check the level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in your blood. To check for diabetes the doctor may order a test to measure the level of glucose in your blood. It could also be necessary to assess your testosterone levels in the morning. This is also done with a blood test.
For an algorithm to facilitate evaluation and treatment of patients with ED, see figure 2.
Ultrasound (and ultrasonography) is imaging of the body used in the medical diagnosis and screening of diseases and conditions such as: TIAs, stroke, aneurysm's, heart valve irregularities, carotid artery disease, heart disease, gallstones, kidney stones, liver disease, diseases of the female reproductive, and diseases of the male reproductive organs.
Also, it is important to remember that there are psychogenic issues such as performance-related issues, traumatic past experiences, relationship problems, anxiety, depression and stress that can certainly cause or be considered a comorbid condition contributing to ED.
In some cases, ED can be a warning sign of a more serious disease. One study suggests it can predict heart attack, stroke, and even death from cardiovascular disease. If you’re diagnosed with ED, get checked for cardiovascular disease. This doesn’t mean every man with ED will develop heart disease, or that every man with heart disease has ED, but you should be aware of the link.
When the blood reaches the penis it results in harder and lasting erection. The female partner gets repeated pleasurable and intense orgasms.
While it isn’t the most widely available from telemedicine providers, vardenafil is an important option for the few men who might not have success taking sildenafil but still want an effective medicine they can take on demand 30-60 minutes before sex. Studies show that it behaves the same way in the body as sildenafil, with one known exception.
There are many potential causes for erectile dysfunction, such as these conditions/circumstances: Vascular conditions: High blood pressure Elevated cholesterol Cardiovascular disease Diabetes Trauma: Spinal cord injury Pelvis injury Neurologic disease: Stroke Parkinson’s disease Alzheimer’s disease Radiation to the pelvis for cancer Endocrine: Hypogonadism (low testosterone) Hyperprolactinemia (high prolactin levels) Pelvis surgery: Radical prostatectomy (a surgical procedure for the partial or complete removal of the prostate) Surgeries for rectal cancer or bladder cancer Medication side effects: Antidepressants Antihypertensives (high blood pressure medicine) Antiandrogens (testosterone blockers) Antiarrhythmics (heart rhythm medicine) Alcohol Cigarette smoking Cocaine and marijuana Diabetes & ED View full infographic.
Erectile dysfunction (impotence) is defined as an inability to obtain or maintain an erection sufficient for penetration and for the satisfaction of both sexual partners.
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Medications. You take drugs like sildenafil (Viagra), vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn) and tadalafil (Cialis, Adcirca) as pills before you have sex. They work by increasing blood flow in your penis. This helps you get an erection once you're sexually excited.