Formerly known as impotence, erectile dysfunction is the inability to get or keep a penile erection firm enough for sexual intercourse. Most men will experience erectile dysfunction at some point but are hesitant to ask their doctors about it, so we gathered the most commonly asked questions about erectile dysfunction.
Read on to learn more about the answers to each question.
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is common; men of various ages can sometimes experience it when they’re stressed. However, progressive and frequent ED can signify potential health issues that require treatment by a medical professional.
The physical cause of ED is either limited blood flow to the penis (which prevents it from hardening), an inability to retain blood, or nerve damage. Stress and emotions can also play a role in ED. However, it can also be a symptom of serious illnesses like heart disease, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, or atherosclerosis, which is the hardening of arteries.
How do erections work? During sexual arousal, nerves signal the release of chemicals that increase blood flow into two spongy muscle chambers in the penis. Upon orgasm, nerves release another set of chemical signals that release the blood back into circulation.
Here are the known risk factors for ED:
While there is no specific ED test, men can undertake genital-focused (penis and testicles) tests to check for ED. The test may also check your heart and blood pressure, as well as examine your family history. Depending on your age, your doctor may also perform a rectal exam to check your prostate gland.
Here are some advanced ED tests to guide treatment:
ED is usually treatable with either medication or surgery. Treating the underlying causes and making lifestyle changes can also help reverse symptoms without the need for medication. Psychological and emotional causes of ED are treatable with counseling or psychological therapy.
You may be dealing with ED when you have the following symptoms:
Doctors may start assessing your risk factors for any lifestyle changes that you can implement. This involves changing food habits, incorporating exercise, limiting/omitting alcohol and drug use, or beginning counseling to treat the psychological or emotional causes of ED. Doctors will often try using non-invasive treatments first, like medications and hormone therapy.
Here are the most common non-invasive ED treatments:
What are PDE5 inhibitors? Short for phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, these are medications that block PDE5, an enzyme in blood vessel walls, causing them to relax and increase blood flow.
One non-invasive device that can help with ED is a vacuum erection device. It’s a plastic tube worn over the penis. It has a pump that creates a low-pressure vacuum seal around the erectile tissue, causing an erection. It has an elastic ring that slips onto the base of the penis, holding the blood in and maintaining erections for up to 30 minutes.
Other ED devices are penile implants that require surgery. They are usually recommended for aging men for whom oral PDE5 inhibitors or ICI or IU therapy have proven ineffective. Penile implants are placed entirely inside the penis and have the highest rates of success among treatment options for ED.
Kegels or exercises strengthening pelvic floor muscles greatly benefit those with ED. The pelvic floor muscles are essential in sustaining blood flow to the penis by putting pressure on the penile veins. The pressure keeps blood from leaving the penis, maintaining an erection.
Here are some ED exercises to try at home:
Treatment for ED also begins with caring for your heart and vascular health. This means aerobic exercises are beneficial for men with ED. Studies show that 40 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise four times a week contributed to decreased ED symptoms.
Male infertility comes from low sperm production, sperm abnormalities, or blockages in the sperm delivery system. ED is not a direct cause of male infertility, but they may have similar root causes.
Schedule a virtual clinic visit or in-person appointment with a St. Joseph Health urologist to start your urologic health journey.
Resources:
Medical News Today | Erectile Dysfunction: Treatments and Causes
Healthline | Erectile Dysfunction (ED): Causes, Treatment, Symptoms, and More
Urology Care Foundation | Erectile Dysfunction (ED): Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment
NCBI | Physical Activity To Improve Erectile Function: A Systematic Review of Intervention Studies
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