Erectile Dysfunction or Male Impotence

Erectile dysfunction is a violation of the blood supply to the penis, as a result of which it is impossible to carry out sexual intercourse. Impotence is a broader phenomenon. It includes erectile dysfunction, decreased libido. In general, it can be defined as the absence of fertilizing ability.

Erectile dysfunction is characterized as a difficulty to maintain the erection throughout the entire sexual intercourse (at any of its stages). Thus, partners may have problems with normal sexual intercourse, which often negatively affects the psychology of relationships.

Erectile dysfunction can occur in men at any age, but there is evidence that more often it develops in middle-aged and older patients. The causes of erectile dysfunction can be both somatic diseases (for example, diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension), and psychological.

In most clinical cases, erectile dysfunction is treatable. Treatment of erectile dysfunction is prescribed taking into account the specified causes. It is selected individually for each patient.

How erection appears?

To better understand why erectile dysfunction occurs, you need to know how an erection occurs. Penis tension or erection is provided by cavernous bodies, which have the structure of a cellular sponge. When a man experiences sexual excitement, impulses come from the brain through the spinal cord and further along the peripheral nerves into the cavernous nerves, triggering the release of vasodilating substances into them. As a result, arterial blood flow to the cavernous bodies is significantly increased. At the same time, there is a narrowing of the penile veins, which reduces blood outflow. The combination of an increase in blood flow to the penis with a decrease in its outflow contributes to a natural erection.

Causes

Erection disorders can be caused by two groups of causes:

• psychological (psychogenic);
• somatic (organic).

Studies of the past 20 years have shown that erectile dysfunction is rarely caused by purely psychological causes (stress, depression, behavior patterns, etc.). At the same time, about 80% of all cases of erectile dysfunction are caused by some physical (somatic, organic) conditions. These include diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and vascular atherosclerosis, renal and hepatic insufficiency, thyroid disease, hormonal disorders, prostate and rectum disorders, trauma and diseases of the spinal cord and brain (stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, etc.), pelvic injuries, Peyronie’s disease.

Erection disorders can also be caused by taking certain medications. Persistent erectile dysfunction can develop as a result of such bad habits like drinking, smoking and drug abuse. There is a mistaken belief that genital infections and chronic prostatitis can become ED causes. Waiting for a significant improvement in impaired erection after the treatment of chronic prostatitis or sexually transmitted infections is completely useless.

Treatment options

Today, medicine has offered different options for erectile dysfunction treatment. After a thorough examination, taking into account individual characteristics, you will be offered and prescribed the optimal treatment option. The risk factors for erectile dysfunction will be adjusted, which can significantly improve the erection.

The modern therapeutic options for erectile dysfunction include:

• drug treatment;
• vacuum erection therapy;
• injections of drugs that stimulate an erection in the penis;
• biofeedback therapy.

In those cases when conservative treatment methods are not effective, the problem is best solved with the help of a falloprosthetics operation.

Conclusion

Erectile dysfunction is a subtype of impotence. Impotence is an incurable disease when erectile dysfunction may be treated successfully. Doctors offer different methods to overcome and prevent this disease. When your diagnosis is male impotence only surgical methods of treatment can be effective.